The open borders movement suffered a major defeat in the Supreme Court on July 31. Ever since President Donald Trump pledged to address the issue of illegal immigration, the progressive left has been fighting tooth and nail to ensure that migrants can enter the country in violation of the law. However, the Supreme Court ruling has presented a significant setback.
Environmentalist Request Denied
A coalition of environmental groups previously attempted to halt the construction of the border wall by asking the Supreme Court to order the cessation of the development of the barrier, citing concerns about the environment. In a 5-4 vote, the justices voted to reject the request of these organizations, which include the Sierra Club and the ACLU.
A federal appeals court previously ruled that the Trump administration’s decision to use defense funding for the border wall construction was an illegal use of executive authority. Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that the president could use military funding for the wall. The White House indicated that it would ask the Supreme Court to hear arguments in August.
Government lawyers argued that pausing the construction while litigation ensues would create more costs for the Department of Defense, which would have to reimburse the contractors it hired for the task. According to Fox News, the coalition of environmental groups claimed that the Trump administration did not conduct sufficient environmental impact studies prior to construction and that endangered species like the jaguar and Mexican wolf would be adversely affected by the barrier.
The Battle Isn’t Over Yet
The Supreme Court’s ruling puts a damper on the plans of the open borders lobby. This effort on the part of the environmentalists seems to be nothing more than a ploy designed to persuade the justices to stymie the Trump administration’s efforts to curb illegal immigration. Put simply, progressives have become so desperate to keep a steady flow of undocumented immigrants into the country that they resorted to using the supposed plight of giant cats and oversized canines to influence the Supreme Court.
But, despite the court’s decision, the battle of the border is still ahead of us. Dror Ladin, an attorney working with the ACLU, said: “The fight continues,” adding, “Every lower court to consider the question has ruled President Trump’s border wall illegal, and the Supreme Court’s temporary order does not decide the case. We’ll be back before the Supreme Court soon to put a stop to Trump’s xenophobic border wall once and for all.”
This ruling is undoubtedly a victory for Trump, but it’s also worth noting that he, along with others who favor stricter border policies, have the advantage. As long as lower courts are not allowed to halt progress on the border wall, the administration can continue to build as court proceedings are taking place. If the president can continue to fund the project, the odds that the left could interfere are not as favorable as they would like.
Of course, this does not mean that the wall will be completed. November is getting closer and closer, and a Biden victory would be the dagger in the heart of the effort to tighten up the border.
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