United States | Going to the wall

Donald Trump’s border wall reaches the Supreme Court

The government wants the justices to lift a lower-court order against Mr Trump’s emergency declaration

By S.M. | NEW YORK

WITHIN DAYS, America's highest court will weigh in on one of President Donald Trump's most divisive policies: his plan to build a wall on the southern border. Back in February, his declaration of a national emergency to redirect funds meant for other projects to build the barrier triggered a wave of lawsuits. In June a federal district court in California dealt a blow to the president’s plans. On July 3rd the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the lower court, prompting the Trump administration to rush to the Supreme Court for relief. The government wants the justices to issue a ruling by July 26th to permit it to use a pot of money in the defence budget to get started on the wall. Justice Elena Kagan—who handles such emergency appeals from the Ninth Circuit—has given wall challengers until July 19th to submit a written reply. The Supreme Court will rule soon afterwards.

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