The US House of Representatives has voted to block Donald Trump’s emergency declaration in a major rebuke for the president’s effort to build a wall along the US-Mexico border.

The measure will now go before the Senate, where a handful of Republicans could side with Democrats to send the measure to Mr Trump’s desk, and force him to sign the first veto of his presidency.

Mr Trump made the emergency declaration just under two weeks ago, after Congress agreed to a government funding bill that explicitly left out funding for the border project. That deal averted a second damaging government shutdown in as many months after the president forced what became the longest such closure in US history starting in late December.

Since the emergency declaration announcement, Mr Trump has found critics on both sides of the aisle.

Democrats have raised a range of concerns, and have referred to Mr Trump’s move as an “end run” around Congress, which is constitutionally mandated to approve spending in the federal government.

Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures The US Capitol on the first morning of a partial government shutdown in Washington EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures President Trump speaks with children who called the North American Aerospace Defense Command Santa tracker in the State Dining Room of the White House. He earlier in the day, tweeted that he was 'all alone in the White House' waiting for Democrats to make a deal on border security EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Furloughed federal workers pick up free food at a pop-up store of Kraft Heinz Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Hundreds of federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures A pedestrian walk past the U.S. Capitol ahead of a possible partial government shut down in Washington, U.S., December 20, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts JOSHUA ROBERTS Reuters Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures From left, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Dick Durbin and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi walk to speak to reporters after meeting with President Donald Trump about border security in the Situation Room of the White House. Trump declared he could keep parts of the government shut down for "months or even years" as he and Democratic leaders failed in a second closed-door meeting to resolve his demand for billions of dollars for a border wall with Mexico Evan Vucci AP Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures A sign alerts visitors to the closure of the National Archives on the fifth day of a partial government shutdown EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Hundreds of federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Visitors read signs announcing the closure of the White House Visitor Center EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures President Donald Trump speaks during a round-table discussion on border security and safe communities with State, local, and community leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures A sign alerts visitors to the closure of the White House Visitor Center on the first day of a partial government shutdown EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Furloughed federal workers show their IDs for entering a pop-up store of Kraft Heinz Getty Images

“This is about the Constitution of the United States,” House speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Monday during a news conference. “It’s not about politics, it’s not about partisanship. It’s about patriotism.”

Republicans, who have so far largely supported the president’s policies and proposals, have also raised concerns with the emergency declaration.

So far in the Senate, at least three Republicans have said they see problems with the emergency – on constitutional grounds, and because the move sets a precedent for a future Democratic president to declare a state of emergency to further their own agendas.

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“When I say probably, I want to make sure that what in fact we are voting on when it comes to the Senate is what I believe it is. If it’s what I have seen right now, I will support the resolution to disapprove,” Alaska senator Lisa Murkowski told an Alaskan TV station on Monday.

Ms Murkowski is joined by North Carolina senator Thom Tillis and Maine senator Susan Collins in committing to vote in favour of the resolution that has now passed the House.