NM delegation opposes Trump’s national emergency

President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration to address security issues along the Mexican border has been called “unconstitutional,” “an abuse of power” and a “political ploy” by members of the New Mexico congressional delegation. And most members don’t believe there is a national emergency at all. New Mexico’s three U.S. House members – Assistant Speaker of the House Ben Ray Luján, and Reps. Deb Haaland and Xochitl Torres Small, all Democrats – took action against the declaration this week. They voted in favor of a resolution that would block the president’s declaration. The issue is now before the Senate, where U.S. Sens. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, introduced the companion resolution later in the week. The resolution is expected to come up for a vote in the Senate before Congress goes into recess on March 15. Luján calls Trump’s declaration unconstitutional. “We will continue to do everything within our power to end this craven power grab by the president, and I sincerely hope that the Republican-held Senate will rise to their constitutional duty and do the same,” Luján said...MORE