The U.S. Department of Homeland Security placed two Wisconsin counties and two cities on notice on May 29, saying they are defying federal law by harboring illegal immigrants.
The two Wisconsin counties on the list? Dane and Shawano Counties.
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett was first appointed to the post by Gov. Tony Evers. Shawano County’s Sheriff is George Lenzner.
The two Wisconsin cities on the list? Madison and Milwaukee. The police chiefs of those cities are Jeffrey Norman and John Patterson. The mayors are Cavalier Johnson and Satya Rhodes-Conway.
“Each jurisdiction listed will receive formal notification of its non-compliance with Federal statutes. DHS demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with Federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens,” DHS wrote.
On May 29, the Department of Homeland Security named the names.
“Today, DHS issued a comprehensive list of sanctuary jurisdictions that are deliberately obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws and endangering American citizens,” DHS wrote. “We are exposing these sanctuary politicians who harbor criminal illegal aliens and defy federal law. @POTUS Trump and @Sec_Noem will always put the safety of the American people first. Sanctuary politicians are on notice: comply with federal law.”
DHS then directed readers to the comprehensive list.
The Dane County sheriff previously tried to claim that his jurisdiction cooperated with ICE, but we documented how his department refuses most ICE detainer hold requests, even for violent criminals.
There is a bill pending in the Wisconsin legislature that mandates that sheriffs cooperate with ICE in felony cases, but Gov. Tony Evers has already pledged to veto it.
“Executive Order 14287: Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens requires that a list of states and local jurisdictions that obstruct the enforcement of Federal immigration laws (sanctuary jurisdictions) be published. Sanctuary jurisdictions including cities, counties, and states that are deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities. Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril,” DHS wrote.
“The list…created to identify sanctuary jurisdictions, which are determined by factors like compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions, and legal protections for illegal aliens,” DHS added.
We have reached out to Milwaukee police, the City of Milwaukee spokesperson, the City of Madison police, the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department, and the Dane County Sheriff’s Department for comment.
