On 27 July 2019, the US Supreme Court made a landmark ruling that President Donald Trump can use $2.5bn (£2bn) of Pentagon funds for a section of the border wall on the southern border.
The court's decision, made by a five-to-four vote, blocks a ruling by a federal judge in California that barred the president from spending the money on the wall.
The wall, which was a major campaign promise during the 2016 election, is fiercely opposed by Democrats.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described the ruling as 'deeply flawed', saying that the president was 'stealing military funds' to build the wall.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has vowed to seek an expedited decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to halt the construction of the wall.
Environmental groups have also campaigned against building the wall, citing concerns about its impact on wildlife.
According to US authorities, 104,344 people were arrested along the southwest border in June, a 28% drop from the previous month.
