Donald Trump has yet to sign a spending bill that provides a fraction of his requested border fence funding or declare a state of emergency over illegal immigration, but green groups say they’re already gearing up to sue his administration over the president’s proposed wall.
The Washington Examiner reports Earthjustice president Abigail Dillen said her group of environmental lawyers "must be prepared to use the full power of the law" to challenge Trump’s wall, should he try and build it through an emergency declaration.
"The federal government has already waived dozens of laws to build destructive, polluting, and unnecessary border barriers, and now, this administration is shoving aside the constitution to try to build a symbol of hate," Dillen said.
Interestingly, this move comes from the same side of the ideological aisle that was up in arms after nearly a dozen people were charged with federal crimes and misdemeanors for littering on a federal wildlife preserve after dumping plastic water jugs intended for illegal aliens who crossed the border unlawfully.
Mounting piles of trash, including discarded plastic containers, water bottles, clothes and shoes left behind by traveling migrants, have consistently plagued border areas in Texas and Arizona for years, resulting in massive – and expensive – clean-up efforts. According to one Reuters report, Arizona workers pulled a stunning42 tons of trash from 160 acres of Cocopah tribal lands in western Arizona and at least seven sites on ranches and public land south of Tucson between 2008 and 2012 alone.
But sure. The wall's going to be the problem.