Trump’s chaotic, unfair, and inhumane immigration policies will harm and destabilize Wisconsin's families, communities, and economy – especially in parts of Wisconsin where local law enforcement agencies collaborate with ICE.
The reality is that cooperation with ICE makes our communities not only less welcoming to immigrants, but also makes us all less safe.
ICE Collaboration with Wisconsin Law Enforcement
Besides potential large-scale actions such as workplace raids, the biggest risk for undocumented people is contact with law enforcement.
In 2021, we reported that eight counties have agreements between their sheriff departments and ICE, entered into without any input from the local community. In fact, none of these agreements were approved by county boards or publicly acknowledged until the ACLU of Wisconsin disclosed their existence.
We recently sent open records requests to Milwaukee County, Dane County, and Brown County to assess the state of their police and sheriff departments’ policies.
While all of the policies have room for growth, Brown County’s policy to find any reason besides immigration status to arrest immigrants is the most troubling.
Additionally, Dane County still accepts money for detaining immigrants and sharing information with ICE. Update: On January 29, 2025, Sheriff Barrett announced his intentions to end Dane County's participation in the SCAAP Program.
We call on all Wisconsin law enforcement agencies to terminate existing agreements with ICE and enact policies which prohibit illegally honoring ICE detainer requests or sharing information with ICE regarding encounters with immigrants. An example of an immigrant-friendly policy can be found in the appendix of our report on the jail-to-prison pipeline in Wisconsin.
Take Action
Immigrants and refugees are our neighbors, coworkers, and friends. We urge immigration advocates like you to turn to local solutions for keeping our communities safe.
Call your local police department and sheriff’s office and tell them to steer clear of ICE and Homeland Security. If you live in one of Waukesha, Sheboygan, Brown, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Marquette, or Waushara counties, demand that your sheriff department terminate its agreement with ICE immediately.
If you live in Dane County, call Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett and tell him to stop selling information to ICE and end his department’s participation in SCAAP.
Know Your Rights
It’s urgent that immigrants know their rights and how to prepare in case law enforcement stops them, asks them questions, or arrests them.
Regardless of immigration status, everyone in the US has guaranteed rights under the Constitution. ICE agents are bound by that just the same as police.
Now is the time to learn, and the time to act. We must stand united to defend all who call Wisconsin home.
