Man on the Street: Was Trump’s declaration of a national emergency justified?

Man on the Street

This Week’s Question:

Was Trump’s declaration of a national emergency justified?

Hilario Garcia III

Hilario Garcia III

Major: Electrical Engineering

“No, I do not think it was justified. I think that he’s declaring things too quickly without thinking ahead of time. I don’t think declaring it was just for the sake of building the wall. I think he wants to do it purely for his own benefit, rather than acting on what the people want. It’s all ego.”

Ariel Pena

Ariel Pena

Major: English

“Not at all. I feel that Donald Trump is a very childish person that is only doing this because he hasn’t gotten his way. I believe he himself has even admitted that he didn’t need to do what he did and is only doing it for convenience and getting it done quicker. I don’t believe that reason justifies it.”

Olayemi Olaseni

Olayemi Olaseni

Major: Chemistry

“I don’t think so. The reason he’s declaring the emergency is so that he can build the wall and I believe in his campaign he said that Mexico would be funding it. Now he wants to have the taxpayers pay for it, and I believe that’s wrong. I’m not against building the wall, America can do what it wants to protect itself. However, going back on your word and breaking his promise is just over the top.”

Trisha Garcia

Trisha Garcia

Major: Biomedical Science

“No, I do not. My whole life I have lived on the border and shared a lake with Mexico. Living so close to the border and having immediate family across the border I would go there at least once-a-month. I feel like in order to declare a national emergency there needs to be some sort of disturbance, like with Hurricane Harvey. There is none, and the wall is unnecessary. The money for a wall should be going to housing for homeless veterans, homeless LGBTQIA+ people and better situations.”