Rep. Piwowarczyk Introduces Legislation that Addresses Criminal Illegals Who Commit Felonies

Madison– Representative Piwowarczyk introduced new legislation to improve cooperation between local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enhance public safety. The bill requires sheriffs to verify the citizenship status of individuals arrested for felonies and inquire with ICE if the status is unclear. If ICE issues a detainer, the sheriff must hold the individual for up to 48 hours for federal action.

“As a former law enforcement officer, I know how crucial it is to keep dangerous individuals off our streets,” said Rep. Piwowarczyk. “This bill ensures that when we have the opportunity to hold someone pending federal action, we do so to protect our communities.”

The legislation mandates sheriffs to track the number of unlawfully present individuals and their crimes and imposes financial penalties on local governments that refuse to cooperate with ICE. Additionally, sheriffs must seek reimbursement from the federal government for any costs associated with holding individuals on detainers.

Rep. Piwowarczyk stated, “It’s disappointing that Governor Evers is prioritizing political agendas over the safety of Wisconsin families. By refusing to support this common-sense legislation, he is letting dangerous individuals remain in our communities. I stand with law enforcement and the people of Wisconsin in ensuring we take every step to protect our citizens.”

“Just a few weeks ago, Governor Evers declared 2025 the “Year of the Kid” I am calling on Governor Evers to follow through with his declaration by signing this critical piece of legislation to protect our kids.”

The bill comes after concerns about non-compliance by some local jurisdictions, including Dane County and Milwaukee County, which have limited cooperation with ICE. In 2024, ICE issued nearly 150,000 detainers for noncitizens with criminal histories, highlighting the importance of law enforcement cooperation for public safety.

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.