Rep. Jerry Nadler Jerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerAttacks against the police are organized and violent This week: House returns for pre-election sprint Hillicon Valley: Twitter flags Trump campaign tweet of Biden clip as manipulated media | Democrats demand in-person election security briefings resume | Proposed rules to protect power grid raise concerns MORE (D-N.Y.) says he expects President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE "to lie to the American people" during a primetime address on Tuesday about the partial government shutdown and situation at the southern border.

“I expect the president to lie to the American people. Why do I expect this? Because he has been lying to the American people," Nadler said at a press conference near the border on Monday.

Nadler, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, was joined by other congressional Democrats, including Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) and Rep. Joaquin Castro Joaquin CastroDemocratic lawmakers call for an investigation into allegations of medical neglect at Georgia ICE facility Lawmakers of color blast Trump administration for reportedly instructing agencies to end anti-bias training Top House Democrats call for watchdog probe into Pompeo's Jerusalem speech MORE (D-Texas), whose twin brother, Julián, is mulling a presidential bid.

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Nadler argued the White House has consistently used inaccurate statistics to bolster its claims about the existence of a crisis at the border.

"The only emergency at the border is a humanitarian emergency," Nadler said.

He fiercely pushed back against the prospect of Trump declaring a national emergency to direct the construction of his desired wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

"The courts should not permit it," he said. "I do not believe the courts will permit it, and we would certainly oppose any attempt by the president to make himself a king, a tyrant, by saying he can appropriate money without Congress."

Trump has said he's considering declaring a national emergency to direct construction of the border wall. Democrats have said such a move would face legal challenges, while Republicans have said they'd rather the president not skirt Congress with such a measure.

The president's request for more than $5 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border triggered a partial government shutdown that has lasted 17 days and counting. Democrats have refused to offer any money for the president's wall, but have proposed $1.3 billion for other border security measures.

Trump will address the nation on Tuesday night, then visit the border on Thursday.