Rep. Madison Condemns Legislative Republicans’ Repeated Attacks on Immigrant, Refugee Communities in Wisconsin

MADISON – Today, Assembly Republicans advanced AB 24, a bill that mandates local law enforcement cooperation with Immigration Customs and Enforcement (“ICE”), requiring holding undocumented people in their custody under many circumstances.

Right now, the majority of Wisconsin’s county sheriff departments do not voluntarily participate in the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (“SCAAP”), a federal Department of Justice program that partly reimburses state and municipal governments for the costs of incarcerating certain undocumented people who have certain criminal convictions, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin. Representative Madison read the full list of forty-four non-participating counties during the floor session to correct the record.

Representative Madison (D-10) issued the following statement:

“Today, I’m proud of my caucus for unanimously, loudly rejecting yet another Legislative Republican attack on our diverse immigrant and refugee communities in Wisconsin. These communities –from generations of Hmong Wisconsinites to Ukrainian refugees fleeing war to folks just following family to seek dignified jobs and lives– deserve the same protections and support as all others. This bill, if signed into law, will cause waves of harm. It will tear apart families, separate parents from children, and likely hurt some of the same people who mistakenly support it.

Republicans may think that everyone who’s undocumented came into this country illegally, but they’re wrong. For that reason alone, we should not be conscripting local law enforcement to do ICE’s job, as ICE frequently shows it’s incapable of doing that job fairly and consistently. This proposal is unacceptable in any form and I’m optimistic that Governor Evers will fulfil his promise to protect refugee populations regardless of documentation.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.