(Waukesha, August 12, 2024) – The people of Waukesha have their first chance in three years to have their voices heard by the sheriff’s department, and they aren’t letting this opportunity pass them by. Voces de la Frontera, Never Again Action, and community members have banded together in opposition to a harmful Trump-era immigration policy called 287(G). They’re taking their concerns, and urging others to do so, before the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office steering committee on Tuesday, August 13th.

287(G) contracts provide for close cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE. The Waukesha 287(g) contract creates a hostile environment for immigrants living and traveling in the county by giving Waukesha County Jail staff the power to detain people, question people they profile as undocumented and contact ICE to investigate their immigration status. They can then hold them for ICE to be deported, and breaking up families. Despite law enforcement rhetoric to the contrary, these policies do not make anyone safer.

Linda Uebele, longtime Waukesha resident, owner, and principal at Por Ella Tax Service said:

“I work closely with immigrants and Latinos, helping them navigate the tax system. I see firsthand the immense value immigrants bring to our communities and our local and state economies. The 287(g) program, which the Trump administration aggressively expanded, is a discredited initiative implemented in Waukesha without any public input. This program doesn’t improve community safety; instead, it serves political purposes and instills fear among our people. When it was first introduced, community members, with the support of Voces de la Frontera, tried to engage with the Waukesha County Sheriff, but he refused to meet with us. Now, this critical Steering Committee meeting—a chance for public input that won’t come again until 2027—is scheduled during a time when most people are at work, and it coincides with a primary election day. This is not what transparency or accountability looks like.”

True community safety is built on trust. And when people can’t be sure they can report crime without being deported, they are less likely to engage with law enforcement. A 2018 study conducted by the University of California found that undocumented immigrants who learned that their local law enforcement worked with ICE were 61 percent less likely to report crimes to authorities and 43 percent less likely to come forward when victimized.

The Waukesha County Sheriff’s office originally applied for this program in 2018 without any input from the public. The program continued despite public protest, and has been renewed multiple times since in the previous six years. This contract requires a Steering Committee meeting every 3 years, so this is the only chance until 2027 for the public’s wishes to be heard and our questions to be answered.

Rachel Ida Buff, Never Again Action leader and immigration historian shared, “As a Jewish-led organization, we recognize the trauma caused by detention, deportation, and family separation. We know that 287(g) programs expose our immigrant neighbors to great risk for these things. And we say: Never Again, for anyone! I hope many other allies in the community will be there with us in solidarity.”

Community members opposed to this dangerous program are inviting anyone interested in speaking out to fill out an interest form in advance of the August 13th meeting, accessible here: https://bit.ly/endWI287g

*** EVENT DETAILS ***

Where:

Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office, 515 W Moreland Blvd, Waukesha, WI 53188

When:

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET

INTEREST FORM: https://bit.ly/endWI287g

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Never Again Action Wisconsin: Ethan Bartlett, (608)807-4385, ethan.bartlett@gmail.com

Voces de la Frontera: Alexandra Guevara, (414)379-9050, aguevara@vdlf.org