Thread by @benrileysmith

**DETAILS OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION**

$8bn for 234 miles of border barriers (approx)

- $1.375bn from Congress bill
- $600m from Treasury forfeiture fund
- $2.5bn from military counter-drugs funds
- $3.6bn from other military construction projects

1/

2/ Only last of these actually uses an emergency power. The first was approved by Congress. The next two to be done with regular executive powers.

Trump will also NOT be raiding cash for Puerto Rico and Texas disaster relief funds, as speculated.

3/ The cash is for what White House calls a “bollard wall” (i.e. steel barrier) rather than a concrete wall. Officials insist they accepted this definition for the wall months ago.

4/ Senior US admin official denies it is presidential overreach.

“It actually creates zero precedent. This is authority given to the president in law already.

"It’s not as if he just didn’t get what he wanted so he’s waving a magic wand and taking a bunch of money.”

5/ No detail on where along US-Mexico border the barriers will come up. Or when. [They’re just getting round to construction from money in 2017/18 budget so could take some time.]

6/ What to watch for now…

One: Legal challenge. Campaign groups have already pledged to do so. Dems could also launch or support the move.

Two: Republican rebellion. If handful of GOP senators rebel, Congress could pass a resolution opposing move. [But Trump could veto]