Presidents Day protests against Trump’s emergency declaration

Activists held for nationwide protests on Monday’s Presidents Day holiday to demonstrate against President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to secure funding for a US-Mexico border wall.

Trump invoked the emergency powers on Friday under a 1976 law after Congress declined to fulfill his request for $5.7 billion to help build the wall that was his signature 2016 campaign promise. The move was designed to let him spend money appropriated by Congress for other purposes.

Democrats have vowed to challenge it as a violation of the US Constitution. Trump says a wall is needed to curb illegal immigrants and illicit drugs coming across the border.