WH Preparing Draft National Emergency Order amid Gov’t Shutdown

Local Editor

The White House is preparing a draft proclamation for US President Donald Trump to declare a national emergency along the southern border, identifying $7 billion in potential funds pulled from other existing funds, internal documents obtained by CNN read.

"The massive amount of aliens who unlawfully enter the United States each day is a direct threat to the safety and security of our nation and constitutes a national emergency," the draft of a presidential proclamation added.

"Now, therefore, I, Donald J. Trump, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the National Emergencies Act [50 U.S.C 1601, et seq.], hereby declare that a national emergency exists at the southern border of the United States," the draft reportedly stated.

Relatively, an official confirmed to CNN that the draft proclamation was updated as recently as last week.

The US administration reportedly could pull around $7 billion in total for the building of a border wall and solve the southern border crisis: $681 million from Treasury forfeiture funds, $3.6 billion in military construction, $3 billion in Pentagon civil works funds, and $200 million in Department of Homeland Security funds, the official said.

Trump previously hinted that he might declare a national emergency in order to secure funds to build a wall along the border with Mexico, but followed up by stating that he would prefer to reach a deal with Congress.

The longest shutdown in US history was caused by a standoff between Trump and the Democrats over the president's demand for funds to maintain southern border security.

Trump is asking Congress to approve $5.7 billion to deal with a crisis on the US-Mexico border, including building a border wall, but Democrats refuse to provide funds for any physical barrier.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team