The ACLU of Wisconsin today condemned the Washington County and Winnebago County Sheriff Departments for entering into 287(g) warrant service officer agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday, March 3.
With these two additional agreements, there are now nine Wisconsin counties—Brown, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Marquette, Sheboygan, Washington, Waukesha, Waushara, and Winnebago counties—whose sheriff departments collaborate with ICE.
The 287(g) agreements and other ICE collaboration programs can embolden police to engage in racial profiling. Nationally, police in 287(g) jurisdictions have made stops and arrests as a pretext for engaging in immigration enforcement. For example, arresting a driver and taking the driver to jail instead of simply issuing a ticket, based on the driver’s perceived race or immigration status.
The ACLU of Wisconsin has urged local sheriffs not to enter into more 287(g) agreements and to withdraw from existing agreements, which allow termination at any time.
“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,” said Senior Staff Attorney Tim Muth.
“The reality is that cooperation with ICE makes our communities not only less welcoming to immigrants but also makes us all less safe.”
