Trump's 'national emergency' declaration for border security draws backlash

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - Outrage at the White House Monday, as hundreds of demonstrators descended on Lafayette Square vowing to fight President Trump's national emergency declaration on the border.

Federal lawsuits are now being filed against the president's move, and there could be more on the way including from our area.

Protests lead by the American Civil Liberties Union made it clear this Presidents' Day that, the "national emergency" announced by President Trump on Friday - in their view is not legal.

The lead attorney for the ACLU announced they've already filed their suit and expect they will win in federal court.

"This is unconstitutional. Just three weeks ago, President Trump said if Congress doesn't give him what he wanted he'd declare a national emergency and that's what he did last week and again -- there is no national emergency." said Manar Waheed, ACLU legislative counsel.

The event in DC is part of a national mobilization effort with 47 protests held throughout the country.

The ACLU announced it will file a lawsuit early this week challenging the president's invocation of emergency powers to secure funds to build a wall along the southern border.

The president acknowledged that the move will be challenged in court, and even says he expects to lose some of those court challenges.

In the end, President Trump's supporters say he will emerge victorious.

Appearing on FOX 5's "On the Hill" Sunday, advisory board member for the Trump 2020 campaign Paris Dennard, said the president has the absolute right to declare an emergency, because congress gave him that right.

"They should have acted a long time ago on the border. They should have acted a long time ago with DACA. They should have done a lot on the things they're not doing. But when they don't act the president has the authority and the constitutional right to do to secure the homeland and that is exactly what past presidents have done and that's what this president is doing," said Dennard.

As the president triggers legal action across the country from groups including the ACLU and Public Citizen, California Governor Gavin Newsome says he's suing, and Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh says he is looking at all options and is considering it.