Thursday, October 23, 2025
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Thursday, October 23, 2025

Milwaukee Press Club 'Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism' 2020 & 2021 Award Winners

The 21 Foreign Nationals in the Milwaukee County Jail

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There were at least 21 foreign nationals in the Milwaukee County Jail on a snapshot of a recent day, according to a list that Wisconsin Right Now received via an open records request. They are charged with serious violent felonies, including child rapes and firearms offenses, in some cases. In many cases, they have extensive criminal histories in Wisconsin.

One, Lesent Lewis, a citizen of Grenada, is accused of attempted homicide for allegedly attacking his wife on Valentine’s Day with a “sword-type weapon, shaped like an ax.”

We filed an open records request asking the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department for all of the ICE detainers both requested and rejected, as well as a list of all foreign nationals (non-citizens) who were currently in the Jail. A couple of the inmates are already released; the list represents a snapshot in time of the number of foreign nationals who were in the jail at the time the request was fulfilled this February 2025.

“Upon inspection, an extensive search of our records indicates we have no records responsive to your request,” the Sheriff’s Department responded. “The computer program that is used to scan ICE detainers into our system, does not allow a search query using the parameters that you have requested. ICE detainers can only be searched by accessing each individual inmate’s profile.”

Other Sheriff’s Departments have easily provided ICE holds to Wisconsin Right Now.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department did provide this list of foreign nationals currently in the jail. We have now requested, through open records request, the ICE holds requested and rejected for the following inmates. We have excluded the Puerto Rican on the Sheriff’s list because Puerto Ricans are American citizens from birth.

Milwaukee jail

Additional details:

Dennis Joseph Pringle, citizen of Canada

Dennis pringle
Dennis pringle

Current case: Open felony for possession of a firearm as a felon. $1,000 cash bail.
Previous cases in Wisconsin:
2017 misdemeanor criminal damage to property conviction
2006 felony Prisoner Throw/Expel Bodily Substance (Columbia CO)
2005 Wisconsin Statutes 943.32(1)(a) & (2). (related to robbery)
1980 Wisconsin Statutes 943.32(a)


Raul Rios, citizen of Cuba

Raul rios
Raul rios

Current case: Possession with Intent to Deliver Controlled Substance (Cocaine) (>15-40g) [Modifiers: Use of a Dangerous Weapon], a class D felony
Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Received $2,500 bond at one point.

Past cases in Wisconsin:
2011 Retail Theft-Intentionally Take(<=$2500), a class A misdemeanor 2007 Battery, a class A misdemeano 2006 Possess w/Intent-Cocaine (>15-40g) [Modifiers: Second/Subsequent Drug Offense], a class D felon
2001 Possess w/Intent-Cocaine (>5-15g), an unclassified felony


Ronney Nemamiah Johnson Jr., citizen of Uganda

He is no longer in the jail but was booked into the jail on 2/14/25. We have asked the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department why he is no longer in the jail.

Current case: Intimidate Victim/Use or Attempt Force Felony G
Modifier: Domestic Abuse Assessments
$10,000 cash bail

Case #2
1st Deg. Sexual Assault-Use/Dang.Weapon Felony B
2 940.30 False Imprisonment Felony H
3 941.29(1m)(a) Possess Firearm-Convicted of a Felony

Past cases in Wisconsin:
2024, dismissed case, Intimidate Victim/Use or Attempt Force Felony G Dismissed on Defendant’s Motion
Modifier: 973.055(1) Domestic Abuse Assessments
2018, Substantial Battery-Intend Bodily Harm [Modifiers: Domestic Abuse Assessments], a class I felony
2013, Possession of Firearm by Felon, a class G felony, Wisconsin Statutes 941.29(2).
Battery, a class A misdemeanor, Wisconsin Statutes 940.19(1).
2010, Resisting or Obstructing an Officer, a class A misdemeanor
2008, Operating While Revoked (2nd), an unclassified misdemeanor
2005, Take and Drive Vehicle w/o Consent, a class H felony,
2005, Resisting or Obstructing an Officer, a class A misdemeanor
2003, Felon Possess Firearm, a class G felony
2000, Escape-Criminal Arrest, a class D felony
1999, Drive or Operate Vehicle w/o Consent, a class E felon


Juan Rodriguez, Citizen of Mexico

Juan rodriguez
Juan rodriguez

Current charges:
Repeated Sexual Assault of Same Child (At Least 3 Violations of 1st Degree Sexual Assault)
$200,000 bail

Second case:
Repeated Sexual Assault of Same Child (fewer than 3 Violations of 1st Degree Sexual Assault) Felony C
Repeated Sexual Assault of Same Child (At Least 3 Violations of 1st or 2nd Degree Sexual Assault)

Past cases in Wisconsin: None


Gabriel Alejandr Muniz-Jimenez, Citizen of Mexico

Milwaukee jail
Current case: Possession of Methamphetamine Felony I

Past Cases in Wisconsin:
2023 Disorderly Conduct, a class B misdemeanor
2023 Possession of Methamphetamine Felony I Dismissed


Dante Giron Lopez-Giron, Citizen of Mexico

Milwaukee jail

Current cases: Burglary-Building or Dwelling Felony F
Retail Theft – Intentionally Take (<=$500) Misd. A

Past Cases in Wisconsin:
Knowingly Violate a Domestic Abuse Order [Modifiers: Domestic Abuse – Threat], an unclassified misdemeanor, Wisconsin Statutes 813.12(8)(a).
Criminal Damage to Property [Modifiers: Domestic Abuse – Threat], a class A misdemeanor, Wisconsin Statutes 943.01(1).
2022: Violate/Harassment Restraining Order – Injunction, an unclassified misdemeanor
2021: Criminal Damage to Property, a class A misdemeanor,
2021: Criminal Damage to Property, a class A misdemeano
2021: Knowingly Violate a Domestic Abuse Order – Injunction
2020: Criminal Trespass to Dwelling, a class A misdemeanor
2020: Disorderly Conduct, a class B misdemeanor
2020: Retail Theft – Intentionally Take (<=$500), a class A misdemeanor


Joan De Los Santos-Manzanarez, Citizen of Mexico

Milwaukee jail

Current case: Being held on a 2018 conviction for Knowingly Violate a Domestic Abuse Order – Injunction

Past Wisconsin cases: None


Robert Shwe, Citizen of Thailand

Milwaukee jail

Current cases:
2024CF002489 346.04(3) Vehicle Operator Flee/Elude Officer FI 5000.00 Cash State Court
2024CF002489 943.23(3) Drive or Operate Vehicle w/o Consent FI 5000.00 Cash State Court
2024CF002489 946.41(1) Resisting or Obstructing an Officer MA 5000.00 Cash State Court
2024CF002489 939.62(1)(b) Habitual Criminality MOD State Court
2024CF002489 939.62(1)(b) Habitual Criminality MOD

Past Cases in Wisconsin:

2023 Theft-Movable Property >$2500-$5000, a class I felony
2022 Remove Vehicle’s Major Parts w/o Consent [Modifiers: PTAC, as a Party to a Crime], a class I felony
2021 Criminal Damage to Property, a class A misdemeanor


Dario Eduardo Lopez-Segura, Citizen of Mexico

Milwaukee jail

Current cases:
Take and Drive Vehicle w/o Consent Felony H Guilty Due to No Contest Plea
Habitual Criminality Repeater
Cause Injury/Operate While und. Influence Misd. U Guilty Due to No Contest Plea

Past Cases in Wisconsin
2022 Vehicle Operator Flee/Elude Officer, a class I felony
2019
Battery [Modifiers: Domestic Abuse Assessments], a class A misdemeanor, Wisconsin Statutes 940.19(1).
Disorderly Conduct [Modifiers: Domestic Abuse Assessments], a class B misdemeanor, Wisconsin Statutes 947.01(1).
Criminal Trespass to Dwelling, a class A misdemeanor


Kyaw Khin Than, Citizen of Thailand

Milwaukee jail

Current cases:

2020CM001282 946.49(1)(a) Bail Jumping-Misdemeanor MA 750.00 Cash State Court
2020CF004461 346.04(3) Vehicle Operator Flee/Elude Officer FH 5000.00 Cash State Court
2020CF004461 941.30(2) 2nd-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety FG 5000.00 Cash State Court
2020CF004461 946.49(1)(a) Bail Jumping-Misdemeanor MA 5000.00 Cash State Court
2020CM000520 941.23(2) Carry Concealed Weapon MA 750.00 Cash State Court
2020CM001282 941.23(2) Carry Concealed Weapon MA 750.00 Cash State Court
2020CM001282 943.20(1)(a) Theft-Movable Property <=$2500 MA 750.00 Cash State Court
2020CM001282 939.05 Party to a Crime ENH State Court

Past Cases in Wisconsin: None.


Osman Muganga Ali, Citizen of Kenya

Milwaukee jail

Current Cases:

2023CF005431 943.82(1) Fraud Against a Financial Institution ($10,000 – $100,000) FG 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 943.88 Organizer of Financial Crimes FE 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 941.29(1m)(bm) Possession of Firearm – Adjudicated Delinquent FG 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 941.29(1m)(bm) Possession of Firearm – Adjudicated Delinquent FG 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 961.41(1m)(cm)3 Possess w/Intent-Cocaine (>15-40g) FD 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 943.32(2) Armed Robbery FC 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 943.32(2) Armed Robbery FC 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 943.38(1)(a) Forgery-Writings or Objects FH 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 943.895(2)(a)1 Money Laundering-Knowingly Receives/Acquires Proceeds (Over $100,000) FF 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 943.204(2) Theft of Mail (30 or more pieces of mail) FH 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 943.38(2) Forgery-Uttering FH 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 943.82(1) Fraud Against a Financial Institution ($10,000 – $100,000) FG 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 943.895(2)(a)1 Money Laundering-Knowingly Receives/Acquires Proceeds (Over $10,000 To $100,000) FG 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 943.895(2)(a)1 Money Laundering-Knowingly Receives/Acquires Proceeds (Over $10,000 To $100,000) FG 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 946.83(3) Racketeering-Pattern of Activity FE 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 946.85(1) Continuing Criminal Enterprise FE 145000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF005431 939.31 Conspiracy MOD State Court
2023CF005431 939.31 Conspiracy MOD State Court
2023CF005431 939.31 Conspiracy MOD State Court
2023CF005431 939.31 Conspiracy MOD State Court
2023CF005431 939.31 Conspiracy MOD State Court
2023CF005431 939.31 Conspiracy MOD State Court
2023CF005431 939.31 Conspiracy MOD State Court
2023CF005431 939.31 Conspiracy MOD State Court
2023CF005431 939.31 Conspiracy MOD State Court
2023CF005431 939.31 Conspiracy MOD State Court

Past Cases in Wisconsin: None.


Abdulkad Abdukidus Osman, Citizen of Somalia

Milwaukee jail

Current Cases:
2023CF002770 948.02(2) 2nd Degree Sexual Assault of Child FC 100000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF002770 948.02(2) 2nd Degree Sexual Assault of Child FC 100000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF002770 948.02(1)(c) 1st Degree Child Sexual Assault – Intercourse with Person under 16 – Use/Threat of Force/Violence FB 100000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF002770 948.02(1)(c) 1st Degree Child Sexual Assault – Intercourse with Person under 16 – Use/Threat of Force/Violence FB 100000.00 Cash State Court

Past cases in Wisconsin:
2021
1 948.02(1)(d) 1st Degree Child Sex Assault-Contact w/Person under 16-Use/Threat of Force/Violence (Actor is 18) Felony B Dismissed on Prosecutor’s Motion
2 948.02(1)(c) 1st Degree Child Sexual Assault – Intercourse with Person under 16 – Use/Threat of Force/Violence Felony B Dismissed on Prosecutor’s Motion
3 948.02(1)(c) 1st Degree Child Sexual Assault – Intercourse with Person under 16 – Use/Threat of Force/Violence Felony B Dismissed on Prosecutor’s Motion
4 948.02(1)(d) 1st Degree Child Sex Assault-Contact w/Person under 16-Use/Threat of Force/Violence (Actor is 18) Felony B Dismissed on Prosecutor’s Motion


Jorge Martinez-Rojas, Citizen of Mexico

He’s no longer in the Jail.

2022 case: Possess w/ Intent-THC (>10,000 g) [Modifiers: PTAC, as a Party to a Crime], a class E felony
Possess w/ Intent-THC (>10,000 g), a class E felony


Enrique Ramirez-Agustin, Citizen of Mexico

Milwaukee jail

Current Cases: 3rd offense OWI

Past Cases:
OWI 2nd


Rafael D. Gonzalez-Amparo, Citizen of Mexico

Milwaukee jail

Current Cases: None. He’s in the Jail on a U.S. Marshal’s Service hold.

Past Cases in Wisconsin: Unclear.


Siphaphone Rajaphoumy, Citizen of Laos

Milwaukee jail

Current Cases:
2023CF005287 948.02(1)(e) 1st Degree Child Sex Assault – Sexual Contact with Person under Age of 13 FB 30000.00 Cash State Court

Past Wisconsin Cases: None


Mohammad Ali Rafik

No longer in the Jail.

Current Case: Operator Flee/Elude Officer-Bodily Harm or Property Damage

Past Wisconsin Cases: None


Javier Santiago Canseco, Citizen of Mexico

Javier santiago canseco
Javier santiago canseco

Current Case:

2023CF002849 939.63(1)(a) Use Dangerous Weapon (Misdemeanor) MOD State Court
2023CF002849 961.41(3g)(c) Possession of Cocaine/Coca (2nd+) FI 25000.00 Cash State Court
2024CF001612 346.04(3) Vehicle Operator Flee/Elude Officer FH 25000.00 Cash State Court
2024CF001612 941.30(2) 2nd-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety FG 25000.00 Cash State Court
2024CF001612 346.63(2)(a)1 OWI Cause Injury (2+) FH 25000.00 Cash State Court
2024CF001612 946.49(1)(b) Bail Jumping-Felony FH 25000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF002849 947.01(1) Disorderly Conduct MB 25000.00 Cash State Court
2023CF002849 939.63(1)(b) Use Dangerous Weapon (Felony 5+ Yrs) MOD State Court

Past Wisconsin Cases:
2022 Possession of Cocaine/Coca Misd. U Dismissed on Prosecutor’s Motion
2022 Criminal Trespass [Modifiers: Domestic Abuse Assessments], a class A misdemeanor, Wisconsin Statutes 943.14(2).
Disorderly Conduct [Modifiers: Domestic Abuse Assessments], a class B misdemeanor, Wisconsin Statutes 947.01(1).


Kevin A. Aguilar-Rodriguez, citizen of Honduras

Milwaukee jail

Current cases:
In Milwaukee,
2025CF000724 940.225(3m) 4th Degree Sexual Assault MA 7000.00 Cash State Court
2025CF000724 946.49(1)(b) Bail Jumping-Felony FH 7000.00 Cash State Court

In Portage County,

1 940.30 False Imprisonment Felony H
2 943.14(2) Attempt Criminal Trespass to Dwelling Misd. A
3 940.225(3m) 4th Degree Sexual Assault Misd. A
4 947.01(1) Disorderly Conduct Misd. B
5 940.225(3m) 4th Degree Sexual Assault Misd. A
6 947.01(1) Disorderly Conduct Misd. B

Past Wisconsin Cases: None


Cristian Luna Luna, Citizen of Mexico

Not currently in jail.

Current cases: None

Past Wisconsin Cases: None


Lesent L. Lewis, Citizen of Grenada

Milwaukee jail

Current Cases:

2025CF000889 940.01(1)(a) 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide *Attempt FA 50000.00 Cash State Court
2025CF000889 939.32 Attempt MOD State Court
2025CF000889 939.63(1)(b) Use Dangerous Weapon (Felony 5+ Yrs) MOD State Court
2025CF000889 973.055(1) Domestic Abuse Surcharges MOD State Court
2025CF000889 940.21 Mayhem FC 50000.00 Cash State Court
2025CF000889 973.055(1) Domestic Abuse Surcharges MOD State Court
2025CF000889 939.63(1)(b) Use Dangerous Weapon (Felony 5+ Yrs) MOD State Court
2025CF000889 947.01(1) Disorderly Conduct MB 50000.00 Cash State Court
2025CF000889 973.055(1) Domestic Abuse Surcharges MOD State Court
2025CF000889 939.63(1)(a) Use Dangerous Weapon (Misdemeanor) MOD State Court

Past Wisconsin Cases:

2005: Bail Jumping-Misdemeanor, a class A misdemeanor
2004: Disorderly Conduct, a class B misdemeanor

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Wisconsin Lawmakers Propose Legalizing Mobile Sports Wagering

(The Center Square) – A group of Wisconsin lawmakers are proposing a law that would allow mobile sports wagering across the state through the state’s current tribal operators.

The law would allow for a similar sports wagering model as Florida where the state’s sportsbook operators have servers on federally recognized tribal lands while users can be in the state of Wisconsin.

The proposal cites the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 decision not to hear a challenge to the sports wagering pact between Florida and the Seminole tribe of the hub-and-spoke sports wagering model.

Legal sports wagering is currently only allowed on tribal lands in Wisconsin while prediction markets such as Kalshi are now legal across the U.S.

The Ho-Chunk Nation currently has a lawsuit filed against Kalshi for operating in the state.

The bill is being proposed by Reps. Tyler August, R-Walworth, and Kalan Haywood, D-Milwaukee, along with Sens. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, and Kristin Dassler-Alfheim, D-Appleton.

ā€œThis legislation is an important step to bring Wisconsin in alignment with the majority of the country in regards to sports wagering," Haywood said in a statement. "For too long, illegal, offshore entities have profited from consumers through unregulated sports wagering, without generating revenue for local economies.

"By regulating this multi-billion-dollar industry, we can provide a safer mobile wagering experience for Wisconsin consumers, and generate much needed revenue to invest into our communities.ā€

Wisconsin receives payments that are a portion of the net win from tribal casinos but does not separately reports sports wagering payments.

In 2024, the state received more than $66 million in shared revenue payments with nearly $66 million in 2023 and nearly $57 million in 2022.

Sports wagering is legal in 39 states with 31 allowing mobile sports wagering.

Sponsors sent out the proposed legislation to fellow lawmakers this week asking for co-sponsors before Oct. 22.

ā€œThis bill does not authorize gambling on its own; it only is one part in a multi-step process to create the legal framework necessary for Wisconsin to participate in mobile sports wagering under tribal compacts,ā€ the proposal said. ā€œGaming compacts between states and tribes need to be federally approved by the U.S. Department of Interior before going into effect.ā€

Making a sports bet in the state is currently a misdemeanor offense and the bill would exclude from the legal term ā€œbetā€ any mobile sports wager with an approved sportsbook with servers located on tribal lands.

The bill estimates it will bring hundreds of millions of illegal bets into legal sportsbooks in the state, stating the change ā€œgenerates new revenue through tribal gaming compacts and reduces consumer risk from offshore operators.ā€

Jill Underly

Thursday Hearing Set on Sexual Misconduct, Grooming in Wisconsin Schools

(The Center Square) – A hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday to address concerns about sexual misconduct and grooming in schools.

Committee on Government Operations, Accountability and Operations Chair Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, scheduled the hearing and invited State School Superintendent Jill Underly, along with law enforcement.

Nedweski announced Thursday night she would be introducing three bills related to the case including a grooming law, standards for communication between students and faculty and to end a "loophole" where educators can surrender their teaching license rather than facing further investigation.

She had previously been working on the grooming law and bill on communications standards after the case of Kenosha teacher Christian Enwright, who pleaded guilty to 12 misdemeanors for his conduct sending hundreds of Snapchat messages to a student that resulted in a sentence of 450 days in jail and three years of probation.

ā€œSince the Kenosha County Eye exposed Christian Enwright’s predatory behavior toward a student, I have been working on anti-grooming legislation that will establish harsh penalties for any adult convicted of grooming a minor for sexual activity,ā€ Nedweski said in a statement. ā€œThis proposal will be modeled after comprehensive laws passed in other states and will give our law enforcement and prosecutors the tools they need to keep children safe.ā€

Senate Committee on Education Chair John Jagler and Vice Chair Romaine Quinn asked a series of 12 questions of Underly and demanded to get a response within 24 hours of the Thursday afternoon letter on if she will be willing to testify before the committee.

The Senate committee leaders had not heard back from Underly or her office as of 11:30 a.m. on Friday.

The Capital Times report showed that 200 investigations into teachers for sexual misconduct and grooming were shielded from the public by DPI and that accused teachers were able to forfeit their teaching license to avoid further investigation into alleged grooming.

The Center Square was unable to get comment from Underly or Gov. Tony Evers before publication.

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Wisconsin School Choice Enrollment Hit New High, Worries Persist

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s latest enrollment numbers show some good news for choice schools in the state, but there’s also a warning sign.

School Choice Wisconsin said choice enrollment hit a new record high of 60,972 students.

ā€œParents are speaking loudly and clearly about what they want for their children: more educational options different than those offered by public schools,ā€ School Choice Wisconsin Vice President Carol Shires said.

The nearly 61,000 choice students this year is up from less than 34,000 in the 2016-2017 school year.

And, Shires said, the new record-high comes just as Wisconsin’s choice school enrollment cap expires.

ā€œLawmakers in Madison should continue to prioritize protecting these private-school options for all students,ā€ she said.

But there are also warnings about the limits of choice school enrollment growth.

Quinton Klabon with the Institute for Reforming Government said choice schools will soon face the same demographic challenges that traditional public schools are facing.

He said the ā€œbaby bustā€ from the 2008 recession has arrived, and all schools will see enrollments fall because there are simply fewer school-aged children.

ā€œSchool choice supporters and opponents alike have projected rapid, continued growth, but new data suggest the programs are affected by declining birth rates, school participation, or parent choices,ā€ IRG noted.

ā€œSchool choice supporters cannot be complacent,ā€ Klabon said. ā€œInforming parents, expanding high-quality schools, and protecting schools from hostile red tape are high priorities. Otherwise, the baby bust will close choice schools.ā€

The new enrollment numbers show Milwaukee’s choice program added 235 students this year.

Racine’s school choice program lost 14 students, and the state’s special needs choice program gained 419. But it was the statewide school choice program that saw the largest enrollment increases. The Wisconsin Parental Choice Program added 1,814 students this fall.

Voters Oppose Transgender Surgeries

Sharp Decline in Trans-identifying Youth Between 2023 and 2025, Report Says

A sharp decline in Gen Z Americans identifying as transgender and queer has occurred, from 6.8% identifying as a gender other than male or female in 2023 compared to 3.6% stating so in 2025, according to a report.

The report’s author, professor of Politics Eric Kaufmann, told The Center Square he thinks this drop in transgender young people ā€œsignals one of the first shifts away from progressive non-conformity of lifestyle and self-expression in 60 years.ā€

Kaufmann told The Center Square: ā€œI believe we could be at the start of a gradual change toward a more post-progressive society, somewhat more socially conservative – or at least not as socially radical.ā€

Kaufmann also said to The Center Square that ā€œthere are manyā€ implications to his report.

ā€œFirst, that social influences are an important factor in the rise and decline of trans, queer and bisexual identity among young people since the 2010s,ā€ Kaufmann said.

ā€œSecond, that gender and sexual identity seems to operate relatively independently of politics and culture war attitudes among young people,ā€ Kaufmann said.

For instance, in an X post on the subject, Kaufmann wrote that the shift in queer and trans identification is not actually due to the youth becoming ā€œless woke, more religious or more conservative,ā€ because ā€œthose beliefs remained stable throughout the 2020s.ā€

Kaufmann told The Center Square that his third and final listed point on the implications of his report was ā€œthat improving mental health is connected to this trend [of declining Gen Z transgenderism], though only partially.ā€

Better mental health certainly appears to play a part in the decline in trans and queer identifying young Americans, as ā€œless anxious and, especially, depressed, students [are] linked with a smaller share identifying as trans, queer or bisexual,ā€ Kaufmann wrote on X.

Kaufmann additionally noted to The Center Square that ā€œit does not appear that these shifts are related to social media consumption patterns.ā€

Interestingly, as Kaufmann wrote on X, ā€œfreshmen in 2024-25 were less trans and queer than seniors whereas it was the reverse when BTQ+ identity was surging in 2022-23,ā€ suggesting that ā€œgender/sexual non-conformity will continue to fall.ā€

Policy director at family advocacy group American Principles Project Paul Dupont told The Center Square that the findings of Kaufmann’s report ā€œshould be seen as good news.ā€

ā€œAdopting an identity at odds with one's biology is not healthy, so any report showing more people embracing their bodies rather than rejecting them is a positive development,ā€ Dupont said.

ā€œWhile it's too early to say with certainty, one hopes that this decline will make it easier to root out gender ideology from its remaining strongholds,ā€ Dupont said.

ā€œMany blue states and cities still allow men to access women's private spaces and sports,ā€ Dupont said. ā€œMany hospitals and clinics still perform gender transition procedures on minors. Many school districts still keep parents in the dark if their child is struggling with gender dysphoria.ā€

ā€œAll of these policies must be repealed wherever they are still in force, and having more members of Gen Z acknowledge biological reality will only help hasten that process,ā€ Dupont said.

Dupont advised that ā€œadvocates for sanity should be cautious not to declare victory yet.ā€

ā€œAlthough we are making progress, gender ideology remains entrenched in many powerful American institutions, and Democrats have refused to moderate one inch in response to their election loss last year,ā€ Dupont said. ā€œThere is still a difficult road ahead.ā€

Much of the information going into Kaufmann’s report came from raw data found in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s (FIRE) annual survey of college students – the College Free Speech Rankings Survey – with more than 60,000 polled in 2025.

As stated by Kaufmann in an article on his report, ā€œjust 3.6% of respondents [to FIRE’s survey] identified as a gender other than male or female,ā€ in 2025.

ā€œBy comparison, the figure was 5.2% in 2024 and 6.8% in both 2022 and 2023,ā€ Kaufmann wrote. ā€œIn other words, the share of trans-identified students has effectively halved in just two years.ā€

FIRE told The Center Square that its survey ā€œlooks at student attitudes for free expression and is conducted for that purpose.ā€

FIRE explained that ā€œas a side effect of asking demographic questions of so many respondents (68,000 this year), one can glean trends in demographics as Prof Kauffman has done here.ā€

ā€œWe make our data available to the public for free on this page to encourage academics or members of the public to dive in and see what findings they're able to uncover beyond the analyses that we ourselves are able to run,ā€ FIRE told The Center Square.

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ā€œYou Saved Dad, and Now We Have to Save Youā€ Two years to the day after the harrowing incident, Wisconsin state Rep. Jerry O’Connor honors...
jeff dabruzzi

Hudson Asst. Fire Chief Jeff Dabruzzi Honored as the First Responder of the Year by Rep. Zimmerman, Sen. Stafsholt

River Falls, WI — Representative Shannon Zimmerman (R–River Falls) and Senator Rob Stafsholt (R–New Richmond) recognized Hudson Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Dabruzzi as the...
lcca

Turning Point Leader Brett Galaszewski to Oconomowoc’s LCCA: ‘My Ask Is Charlie’s Ask’

Brett Galaszewski, the leader for Turning Point in Wisconsin, told board members at Lake Country Classical Academy in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, Wednesday night that Charlie...
margaret hagedorn, catie smiley

Margaret Hagedorn Wants ‘Civics Club’ at LCCA, Not Turning Point. Upset Mom Says Students Were Cut Out

Lake Country Classical Academy Principal Margaret Hagedorn announced for the second time on Tuesday that students will not be allowed to create a Turning...
mpd video

MPD Releases Dashcam Video Showing Officer Defending Himself From Violent Attack, Shooting

The Milwaukee Police Department released a dashcam video that shows an off-duty firearms training instructor for MPD defending himself from a violent attack. Social media...
BRIAN HAGEDORN

LCCA Board Will Consider Policy Change to Allow Student Turning Point Club; Scott Walker, Brian Hagedorn Diverge

The board of Lake Country Classical Academy in Oconomowoc, WI, will vote Wednesday on whether to announce a policy review that would likely overturn...
trevor tomesh

WI Prof. Trevor Tomesh: Working ‘Tirelessly’ So That Conservative Thought Can Be Heard on Campus

Trevor Tomesh is an assistant professor in Computer, Information, and Data ScienceĀ  at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. A post he wrote on the...
wingman delafield

Wingman Gifts & Supply in Delafield Is a Traditional Men’s Store Like You’ve Never Seen Before

When you stroll into Wingman Gifts & Supply in downtown Delafield, Wisconsin, for the first time, you will feel like you've tumbled down a...