As the USA goes into a state of emergency, President Donald Trump has proven a point that he would go any length to realise his goal of erecting a wall along the US-Mexico border; a key promise in his 2016 presidential election campaign. This would help him assign required funds for the construction, which is yet to start, other than for filling gaps in stretches where such a defensive mechanism against illegal immigrations is already in existence.
What the Congress has grudgingly approved for the purpose is $1.4billion against a requirement of $5.7billion. With the nation put under a state of emergency, Trump is free to bypass rules and divert money meant for other purposes to fulfil the promise of wall construction. The only saving grace is, he would not divert funds from a sensitive head, namely national disaster relief fund.
The objection being raised in representative bodies against the Trump plan, though he has obtained nod from the American voters in the last polls, is that a wall is an outdated form of defence against entry of illegal migrants to the US. Trump has, in his usual, somewhat abrasive style, dismissed such talks and would likely divert funds meant for military infrastructure and for fight against the drug menace.
Trump has two more years to be in office for the first term. It’s time he acts now to ensure that an election promise is fulfilled before he approaches the citizenry for vote for a second term. His first term has been controversial from the word go, and he’s battling his way forward with grit and determination. He has often faltered, too, over key appointments of aides etc resulting in confusion in the administration. With his image taking some beating, keeping the word on the wall is important to salvage lost ground. He aims at erecting over 300km of wall this year to achieve target by the time his first term ends.
Trump sees illegal immigrations from the US’s neighbourhood as nothing short of an “invasion of our country.” He’s mindful of the legal challenges that could come in the way of the declaration of emergency, but he is also claiming that the ultimate victory would be his. Democrats are already moving in this direction. Fact is, America is a divided house under Trump. It remains to be seen whether, in the long run, the President would manage to retain his conservative base in strong ways as to have the last laugh.