Wisconsin sheriffs are being called on to assist ICE. How they're responding varies widely.
In Jackson County, a scenic patch of Wisconsin known for its cranberry farms and proximity to the Black River State Forest, immigration enforcement is barely a blip on Sheriff Duane Waldera’s radar. “That's not our role on this issue,” Waldera said. “My stance is that immigration is a federal issue, and the federal government would have to address those issues.” Waldera is describing a well-understood precedent: The federal government can ask local law enforcement for help on immigration, but it's up to them to decide how much to cooperate.
That long-standing separation of duties is now being challenged and reshaped. With the Trump administration ramping up U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and Republican state lawmakers pushing for more collaboration, sheriffs could play a key role in how immigration is enforced on the local level. How much are Wisconsin sheriffs willing to play ball? The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and USA TODAY Network-Wisconsin surveyed all 72 sheriffs in Wisconsin about their views and policies on immigration enforcement. Of the 56 sheriffs who responded in some form, many say they do not have the resources or capacity to assist in the new administration’s efforts.
But views vary. Several sheriffs expressed support for the president's goals and interest in increasing cooperation with ICE. The Washington and Winnebago sheriffs offices, for example, joined an ICE program last week that will allow deputies to hold suspected noncitizens in jail up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released. A third agency — Oneida County Sheriff’s Office — is considering it, the sheriff told reporters.
An ICE spokesperson confirmed that staff have been presenting at local law enforcement agencies to recruit more to its programs. An estimated 70,000 people are living in Wisconsin without legal permission, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Many work in manufacturing, agriculture and construction. Trump’s sweeping deportation goals and directives to revoke legal status even from some immigrants who arrived legally under the previous administration have spread fear and uncertainty throughout Wisconsin communities.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/special-reports/2025/03/13/wisconsin-sheriffs-share-views-on-immigration-ice-cooperation/81939624007/
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