WASHINGTON, May 31 ― A federal judge rejected yesterday an effort by the Trump administration to begin construction on a wall on the border with Mexico while it appeals a ruling that found funding for the wall was likely not authorised by Congress.
US District Court Judge Haywood Gilliam in Oakland, California said in a written order the government was unlikely to prevail on the merits of its appeal, and therefore failed to justify a stay of a preliminary injunction issued last Friday.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Gilliam's order. The government said in a court filing it needed a stay of Friday's injunction to begin wall construction in Arizona and Texas and stem the flow of illegal drugs.
The Trump Administration has said it plans to redirect US$6.7 billion (RM28.05 billion) from the Departments of Defence and Treasury toward wall construction, after failing to convince Congress to provide the money.
Last Friday, Gilliam blocked the administration's initial transfer of US$1 billion, finding that redirecting the funds from other programs likely violated the separation of powers principles.
The government has appealed, and can still ask the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals to stay Gilliam's injunction during the appeals process.
On Wednesday, civil rights groups and 20 states began round two of what is likely to be a prolonged battle over wall funding.
The groups and states asked Gilliam to prevent the Trump Administration from redirecting an additional US$1.5 billion that Congress had approved for the military, according to a court filing.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice declined to comment.
As more transfers are made, the plaintiffs are expected to respond by seeking further injunctions.
The latest request seeks to block the use of US$1.5 billion that was transferred by the Department of Defence in early May.
The injunctions were requested by the Sierra Club and the Southern Border Communities Coalition, which are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, as well as 20 states led by California and New Mexico.
Congress has approved US$1.38 billion for “primary pedestrian fencing” in southern Texas, which was agreed to after a protracted battle and a government shutdown. ― Reuters
