(UTV|COLOMBO) – US President Donald Trump is to declare a national emergency to fund his planned border wall with Mexico, the White House has said.
He will sign a border security bill to avert a government shutdown – but also act to bypass Congress and use military funds for the wall, a statement said.
Senior Democrats have responded by accusing him of committing a “gross abuse of power” and a “lawless act”.
Building the wall was a key election promise by Mr Trump.
But as president he has so far been unable to get the necessary funding to advance it.
Congress passed the bill – which does not meet Mr Trump’s demands for wall funding – on Thursday. It now has to be signed by Mr Trump to become law.
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