More Than 200 US Lawmakers Back Resolution to Stop Trump's Border Emergency - Reports

WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd February, 2019) More than 200 lawmakers in the House of Representatives have signed a measure to terminate US President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration to build a border wall, media reported.

A total of 216 lawmakers, including one Republican, have signed a joint resolution to terminate Trump's national emergency declaration that would allow him to secure funds to build a border wall along the US-Mexico border, US media outlet Roll Call said in a report on Thursday.

The legislation is being orchestrated by US Congressman Joaquin Castro, of the state of Texas, and is being introduced in both houses of Congress.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said the lower chamber of Congress will vote on the measure on Friday.

Trump used the executive action to bypass Congress and secure up to $8 billion in US Federal funds to install 234 miles' worth of steel barriers along the country's 1,950-mile border with Mexico. Later in the day Trump signed a budget resolution to fund the government through September of 2019, meeting Friday's deadline to avert another government shutdown.

Congress had initially reached a bipartisan deal to pass legislation that would provide $1.375 billion for Trump's wall, which was short from the $5.7 billion he originally requested.