Courtney Bourgoin, courtney.bourgoin@sierraclub.org
The order comes in a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the Sierra Club and Southern Border Communities Coalition.
Gloria Smith, managing attorney at the Sierra Club said: "We are deeply disappointed by today’s ruling. The Supreme Court failed to halt the continued construction of Trump's destructive, hate-driven wall. Border communities and ecosystems are suffering irreparable harm, but the Sierra Club will never stop fighting this disastrous project."
"The fight continues,” said Dror Ladin, staff attorney with the ACLU’s National Security Project. “Every lower court to consider the question has ruled President Trump's border wall illegal, and the Supreme Court’s temporary order does not decide the case. We’ll be back before the Supreme Court soon to put a stop to Trump’s xenophobic border wall once and for all. The administration has admitted that the wall can be taken down if we ultimately prevail, and we will hold them to their word and seek the removal of every mile of unlawful wall built.”
Vicki B. Gaubeca, director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition said: “This fight is far from over and we will continue to stand alongside the ACLU and the Sierra Club to fight for our democracy and our communities that are suffering from unaccountable and harmful border policies. We don’t need more irresponsible walls at our borders, we need more responsible border governance that begins with respecting the checks and balances in this country. We need a New Border Vision that expands public safety, protects human rights, and welcomes all people to our region.”
The district court last year and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last month ruled that President Trump’s attempt to circumvent Congress and transfer $2.5 billion in military pay and pension funds for border wall construction is unlawful. The district court blocked the illegal wall construction, an order that the Ninth Circuit last month affirmed. However, because of the Supreme Court stay on the district court’s order, the Trump administration has continued construction using funds unauthorized by Congress.
The Supreme Court decision does not address an additional $3.6 billion in military funds that the Trump administration diverted to the border wall as part of the national emergency that Trump declared when Congress denied his administration the wall funding. A district court last year ruled the diversion of the $3.6 billion illegal and the matter is currently pending before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.