Multiple Democrat candidates for Wisconsin governor want to stop a longstanding program that helps local jails identify which inmates are illegal immigrants, including people accused and convicted of violent crimes, who have lengthy criminal records, and who were previously deported.

Meanwhile, all of the Democrat candidates for governor – Joel Brennan, David Crowley, Fran Hong, Kelda Roys, Mandela Barnes, and Sara Rodriguez – said illegal immigrants should get Wisconsin driver’s licenses and in-state tuition.

Brennan, Crowley, Roys, and Hong opposed the 287g program during a forum on June 22 in Waukesha County. Some wanted elected sheriffs banned from seeking the 287g authority, which exists in counties like Washington and Waukesha. Nineteen Wisconsin counties are listed as partners with the 287g; there are three different models for it.

Republican candidate Tom Tiffany, who wasn’t at the forum, has called abolishing immigration enforcement “crazy.” He wrote, “My priorities are lower taxes, safer streets, and better schools.”

‘I Will Not Tolerate the Release of Violent Criminal Offenders’

Kenosha County Sheriff David W. Zoerner released a statement in January explaining that county’s 287(g) agreement. “I will not tolerate the release of violent criminal offenders back into our community. Period,” he wrote. “As Sheriff, I use every lawful tool at my disposal to protect our citizens.”

“This 287(g) agreement applies only to individuals who are already lawfully in custody for serious criminal offenses. This agreement is focused on violent criminals, felony drug offenders, repeat offenders, and individuals with documented histories of assault, sexual violence, and other serious crimes who are already in our jail because they committed serious offenses,” he said. “These are people who pose a demonstrated threat to public safety. This agreement ensures they are not released back into our community.” Of 742 inmates, 24 had ICE detainers.

However, the Democrat governor candidates who oppose 287g would prevent sheriffs like Zoerner from being able to screen such inmates for immigration status. The liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court is considering an ACLU-fueled lawsuit seeking to ban sheriffs from enforcing ICE detainers, even on violent criminals, whether they participate in 287g or not. Those detainers prevent criminals from disappearing when released on bail or after serving their sentences. Democrat Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a Republican bill last session to mandate that sheriffs honor the detainers.

The White House has touted a poll showing that “67% want state and local officials to cooperate with federal authorities to deport criminal illegal aliens (including 64% of independents).” On May 15, “the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the U.S. Border Patrol’s twelfth consecutive month of zero releases at the border.”

Democrat Candidates Trash ICE: ‘Incompatible With a Free Society’

Democrat candidates for Wisconsin governor also trashed ICE, and all of the Democrat candidates for governor want to limit local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, although Barnes stated later that he was for detainers being applied to people who commit the most serious violent crimes.

Roys, a far-left Democrat who is running for governor as the WEAC-endorsed candidate in the race, said cooperate with the feds turns local cops into “dragoons.” Roys declared at one point, “We need to abolish ICE.” She also said that ICE is “incompatible with a free society.”

She didn’t explain why she wants illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes to stay in this country, since ICE facilitates their removal. What is happening now is an “abomination,” Roys added.

“ICE is an enforcer of fascism” and an executive order to end 287g agreements is absolutely in the cards,” said Hong.

What is 287g specifically?

It’s a program that elected sheriffs can apply for. It gives them federal immigration authority so a subset of some trained deputies can more easily screen the inmates booked in their jails to see which accused/convicted criminals are illegal immigrants. They are able to review jail inmates’ immigration status and place detainers on them so that they aren’t released on bail or after serving a sentence. Read Waukesha County’s agreement here. It was the first in the state, spearheaded by outgoing Sheriff Eric Severson, although the two candidates vying to replace him have both vowed to continue it. Washington County Sheriff Marty Schulteis said entering the program mitigates civil liability risks for the county.

In Dane County, the illegal immigrants in the jail included people accused of attempted homicide, rape, domestic violence, and repeat OWI – very serious offenses. That county, and some others, do not cooperate with ICE.

Some candidates said they would mandate that ICE seek judicial warrants; according to the Brennan Center, “Courts have blessed the practice of relying on administrative warrants for civil immigration arrests conducted outside the home based on a combination of longstanding historical practice and the necessity of non-criminal arrests to a system of civil immigration detention and deportation.” Yet Roys dubbed such administrative warrants “fake.”

If illegal immigrant criminals are released from jails because locals won’t cooperate with ICE detainers and/or don’t have 287g programs, then ICE has to go into the streets to find them, when ICE finds out about them at all. This is more dangerous for ICE, local cops, the community and the illegal immigrants themselves because the streets are a more uncontrolled environment than the jail.

“Collaboration with ICE and turning our local public safety officers into essentially dragoons for the Trump administration will make us less safe,” claimed Roys. According to the National Park Service, dragoons “were originally mounted infantry: they used horses for fast transportation but dismounted to fight on foot using muskets.”

Roys said she wanted to prohibit the 287g program and added, “Prison is the answer for federal agents who break the law and brutalize Wisconsinites.”

Hong referred to “immigrant justice” and “threats coming down to our immigrant communities.”

Brennan said there has been a chilling effect on a Wisconsin companies from immigration enforcement. He said he wanted to ensure “that we don’t have these 287g laws that are being followed at the local level.”

‘No Sheriff’s Department Should Be Able to Operate Under a 287g Program Here’

Crowley said that “no sheriff’s department should be able to operate under a 287g program here in Wisconsin. No 287g agreements should be able to be placed. I would fight and encourage us to pass a law in the state Legislature to make sure it’s no more.” He said illegal immigrants “need us emotionally, mentally.”

Barnes said that there is a lack of comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level so people are “pointing fingers at immigrants.” He called ICE Trump’s “private military force,” but added, “If someone’s wanted for a violent crime, we will figure that out.” He claimed, “That is not what we’ve been experiencing. We’ve seen people kidnapped directly out of communities.”

Rodriguez said that it makes communities less safe when local law enforcement cooperates “with federal agents” and said they should be “identifiable, unmasked.”

The lone Republican on stage, Andy Manske said the Republican Party is “oligarchic,” and the Democrat Part is “corporate” and accused both of looking the other way as illegal immigrants are used as a “slave caste” and for “cheap labor.”

“I want legal immigration. I want them to have a pathway here,” he said.