President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency, when even by his own admission he didn't need to do it. ["Trump declares emergency, Feb. 16"].

There is no national emergency at our southwestern border. Trump's proposed wall is a racist, humanitarian and environmental disaster. Walls harm people, tear apart borderland communities and destroy habitat and migration corridors for hundreds of animals.

Look at the ecological disaster when wolves were removed from Yellowstone National Park. Trump's border wall could imperil more than 90 threatened and endangered species, cut the National Butterfly Center in half, destroy cultural sites and seize private land from families who've lived along the border for generations.

This damage is life-altering and traumatizing, and will have an irreversible effect on local communities and the environment.

A mere wall will not stop humans from breaching or breaking through them. Why? Because walls alone are not a complete barrier and never will be.

Trump's action is a clear violation of the Constitution and the separation of powers. Hopefully, Trump's action will be defeated by Congress and if not there then by our court system, representing a co-equal branch of our government.

Richard Sutherland, Winter Haven