Attorney General Schimel won't say whether he'll challenge Pres. Trump's immigration restrictions

MADISON -- More than a dozen attorneys general issued a joint statement opposing President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration, but Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel isn't saying whether he'll challenge President Trump's immigration restrictions or whether he supports them.

Sixtten attorneys general publicly denounced President Trump's temporary ban in the few days since the order came down on Friday, January 27th.

In a joint statement, the dissenting state officials said they're confident the executive order will ultimately be struck down by the courts because it is unlawful and "un-American."

President Donald Trump

Iowa and Illinois are the only Midwestern states joining the likes of New York, California, Maine, Maryland and others. As of Monday, no Republicans had joined the list.

Schimel, a Republican, said during a news conference Monday, January 30th that he would consider legal action if he felt President Trump overreached his constitutional authority or the policy has what Schimel called a "negative impact'' on Wisconsin.

Attorney General Brad Schimel

He said the Department of Justice's solicitor general's office is reviewing a New York federal judge's order blocking part of President Trump's restrictions. Once that review is complete, his office will decide whether the DOJ has a role to play.

Asked if he agreed with President Trump's restrictions, Schimel called them a policy decision that isn't any of his business. But he said he's not afraid to sue the federal government just because there's a new president.

"Just because we have a change in president doesn't mean I am any less reluctant to sue the federal government if the President acts unconstitutionally and the actions have an impact on the state of Wisconsin. That is my job -- to represent the state of Wisconsin," Schimel said.