Evers Says Wisconsin Will Challenge Trump Border Emergency

MADISON, WI — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers says that he has authorized Attorney General Josh Kaul to join the State of Wisconsin as a plaintiff in California, et al. v. Donald J. Trump, et al., which
challenges the president's declaration of national emergency.

Attorneys general from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont also joined the coalition challenging President Trump's declaration of a national emergency and his attempt to divert funding appropriated by Congress for other purposes.

Evers says the coalition alleges that the Trump Administration's emergency declaration and diversion of funds is unconstitutional and otherwise unlawful. The group seeks to block the Trump Administration's emergency declaration, the unauthorized construction of the border wall, and any illegal diversion of Congressionally-appropriated funds.

"The president's declaration is reckless and unconstitutional," said Gov. Evers. "This isn't how a democracy is supposed to work. There is simply not ample evidence to support the president's contention that there exists a national security crisis at our southwestern border. The real crisis at our border is the separation of children from their families."

"Diverting federal funds away from Wisconsin to pay for a border wall would do little to enhance our security but have real consequences for communities in Wisconsin," said Attorney General Josh Kaul.

The coalition, led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, includes the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai'i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and now Wisconsin.