Border bill passes; is “emergency” next?

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP signs an executive order for a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border (White House photo).

UPDATE: The House of Representatives passed the border security bill by a margin of 300-128 Thursday evening. President Trump will sign the bill on Friday and speak from the White House rose garden.

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A border security compromise bill was approved by the U.S. Senate on Thursday, but President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill and declare a national emergency nevertheless.

The bipartisan bill was approved by the Senate by a vote of 83-16, and the House of Representatives is expected to approve it later in the day. The bill appropriates about $1.4 billion to provide about 55 miles of new barriers and fencing along the nation’s southern border with Mexico.

President Donald Trump will sign the bill, according to Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, but also declare an emergency which may allow taking already allocated money from other federal agencies to pay for the $5.7 billion wall the president has demanded.

The bill will head off danger of a new government shutdown, but could lead to a new political and legal battle. “House Democrats will challenge this irresponsible declaration,” said Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) in a statement.