/ Modified oct 10, 2020 5:10 p.m.

Appeals court rules against Trump administration on border wall funds

The 9th Circuit ruled that just because the country’s military deems the border wall is necessary, that doesn’t mean it is.

trump wall President Donald Trump stands at a section of border wall on the southern border near Yuma, June 23, 2020.
Shealah Craighead/White House/Flickr

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled the Trump administration can’t use military funds to pay for the border wall.

The court ruled that just because the country’s military deems the border wall is necessary, that doesn’t mean it is.

The ruling cited the dictionary definition of the term "necessary" and ruled that while the Department of Homeland Security may deem the border wall as such, DHS is a civilian agency, not a military one.

The court ruling affects a long fought battle over $3.6 billion the Trump administration wanted to use to fund 175 miles of border wall.

The court also considered quality-of-life issues by border area residents who signed on as plaintiffs in the case.

Some of those had told the court that they enjoyed the views of the U.S.-Mexico border and its natural habitats.

Fronteras Desk
Fronteras Desk is a KJZZ project covering important stories in an expanse stretching from Northern Arizona deep into northwestern Mexico.
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