1/11/2019

BORDER/CONGRESS/IMMIGRATION/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/WALL: “President Donald Trump said Friday [1-11-19] he is still open to declaring a national emergency over immigration at the southern border, but made clear he would ‘rather not,’ calling it an ‘easy way out’…One of the reasons Trump is reluctant to declare a national emergency: He believes his administration will be sued and that his actions will be blocked by the 9th Circuit…Earlier in the week, White House lawyers began laying the groundwork for the legal defense of a national emergency declaration on the southern border, officials familiar with the matter said. Preparations for the legal challenges has included advising the President’s aides on ramping up talk of a humanitarian and security ‘crisis’ at the border, a characterization administration lawyers could use later in court to defend a national emergency.”

Jeremy Diamond and Maegan Vazquez, “Trump holds off calling border emergency, says Congress should act,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, January 11, 2019 4:23 pm