MADISON, WI (MetroSource-WSAU) Federal immigration officials say they arrested 83 people in Wisconsin during a four-day enforcement action that ended Monday.
A new accounting of the raids says that 44 of the people who were taken into custody had prior criminal records.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents say the number included 20 in Dane County. Madison Mayor Paul Soglin said local police were not notified of the arrests, and that the action was “in violation of city policy.” ICE usually coordinates raids with local police, but sometimes does not if police are uncooperative. Several immigration rights groups object to ICE agents identifying themselves as “police” when a raid begins.
Soglin says he is concerned that those arrested are being held in far-away detention centers, where they won’t have contract with loved ones and may have limited action to legal aid. He says the city is working to identify who was taken into custody and where they are now.
20 arrests were made in Dane County. 15 others were from Milwaukee County. 9 arrests were made in Brown County, and 6 from Marathon County. Additional arrests were in Taylor, Rock, Eau Claire, Trempealeau, Kewaune, Outagamie, Door, Waukesha, Oconto and Racine.
The action also led to at least two Dane County schools to let parents know their rights and offer them resources for help. The Oregon School District Superintendent said in an email yesterday that the district doesn't ask for or require information on students' citizenship and offered help through the district's student services center.
Comments