Wisconsin’s Immigration Divide: Republicans Push ICE Cooperation Bill Amid Governor Evers’ Veto Threat

In a move that highlights the deepening divide over immigration policy in Wisconsin, Legislative Republicans introduced a new bill today aimed at increasing cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The proposed legislation requires county sheriffs to ask individuals in custody for proof of U.S. citizenship, report those unable to verify their status to the Department of Homeland Security, and collaborate with immigration officers on warrants. If local law enforcement refuses to comply, counties could face a 15% reduction in state funding.
Majority Leader Tyler August (R-Walworth) framed the bill as essential to public safety, particularly in light of concerns over crimes committed by individuals in the country illegally. “Republicans will look to partner with President Trump to ensure local law enforcement all across Wisconsin are working with the federal government to remove criminals from our communities that are here illegally,” August said. “Quite frankly, most people would probably be shocked that felons who are here illegally are being released into our communities. These criminals are not the types of individuals we want on our streets.”
Under the bill, if a sheriff is unable to verify the citizenship status of a person arrested for a felony, they would be required to contact ICE. If ICE issues a detainer for the individual, the sheriff must hold and detain the individual until federal authorities can take action. “Due to the failure of the Biden Administration to enforce our border, we are left with a significant public safety crisis to address,” August explained. “There are certain law enforcement officials in Wisconsin who have not been cooperating with federal officials. We need all law enforcement to detain these criminals to ensure Wisconsinites’ safety.”
However, Democratic Governor Tony Evers has already voiced strong opposition to the bill. Evers’ spokeswoman, Britt Cudaback, dismissed the draft legislation as “not a serious proposal” and emphasized that it would undermine local law enforcement’s autonomy. “Republican lawmakers are trying to micromanage local law enforcement decisions by threatening to gut state aid by 15% for our local communities — that’s a non-starter,” Cudaback said in a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “We shouldn’t be threatening law enforcement with deep budget cuts, we should be working together to improve public safety, reduce crime, and keep dangerous drugs and violent criminals off of our streets.”
The bill’s introduction comes amidst rising tensions over immigration policy in the U.S. and growing concerns about crime linked to illegal immigration. According to federal statistics, ICE arrested over 80,000 illegal aliens with criminal histories in 2024 alone, including significant numbers of violent offenses.
The division between Republican lawmakers and Governor Evers highlights the deepening rift in Wisconsin over how to handle immigration enforcement. Wisconsin, a swing state, has supported both Republican and Democratic presidential candidates in recent elections, reflecting a broader national debate on immigration policy.
The bill is set to be debated in the Wisconsin Legislature, with Republicans arguing that it is necessary to protect communities, while opponents claim it unnecessarily penalizes local law enforcement and threatens critical state funding.
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