President Trump won two victories on his border agenda Friday, with the Supreme Court allowing the use of military funds to expand the barrier on the Mexican border while Guatemala agreed to serve as gatekeeper for asylum seekers trying to get to the U.S.
In a 5-4 decision, the justices of the U.S. high court said President Trump can shift about $2.5 billion in military funds to construct an additional 100 miles of wall at the U.S.-Mexico border in an effort to seal off the U.S. from illegal immigration.
In February, Mr. Trump had declared a national emergency in order to divert a total of $6.7 billion from military and other sources, without the approval of Congress, which had signaled willingness to give him far less. Lower courts had barred the transfer of some of the funds desired by the president, but the Supreme Court on Friday ordered those lower court rulings to be suspended.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Will the Guatemala asylum agreement and the Supreme Court decision quell the border crisis? Why or why not? Join the conversation below.
“Wow! Big VICTORY on the Wall,” Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter. “The United States Supreme Court overturns lower court injunction, allows Southern Border Wall to proceed. Big WIN for Border Security and the Rule of https://www.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-rules-trump-can-use-pentagon-funds-for-border-wall-11564181606Law.”