Latest news with #Wisconsin
Yahoo
2 hours ago
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Milwaukee, other Wisconsin 'sanctuary jurisdictions' listed as defying federal immigration law
The Trump administration put Milwaukee and a handful of other Wisconsin municipalities on a list of 'sanctuary' jurisdictions allegedly defying enforcement of federal immigration law and in jeopardy of losing federal grants and contracts. But communities on the list across the country questioned their inclusion, with some Trump-supporting places saying they have no sanctuary immigration policies. More progressive places either defended their policies or drew attention to the error-riddled list, which misspelled cities like Cincinnati and misidentified counties as cities, or vice versa. The Department of Homeland Security published the list a month after Trump issued an executive order directing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to do so as part of his agenda to deport millions of illegal immigrants. The department included a major caveat on its website, noting the list can be reviewed and changed at any time and will be updated regularly. It's unclear what exactly landed Milwaukee, Madison, Dane County and Shawano County in northeastern Wisconsin on the list. DHS did not return a request for comment May 30. For the most part, the term today refers to cities, counties and states that pass ordinances, policies or legislation declaring themselves sanctuaries for immigrants and promising to limit cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's efforts to detain and deport people who are undocumented. Technically, neither the city of Milwaukee nor Milwaukee County has ordinances or resolutions that explicitly state they are sanctuaries for immigrants. More: Is Milwaukee a sanctuary city? Not quite, but it's one of Wisconsin's closest examples Neither the Milwaukee Police Department nor the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office asks for people's citizenship status, nor do they detain people solely because of their immigration status. People who are booked at the Milwaukee County Jail are required to state their birth country and citizenship, but these responses are self-reported and not confirmed. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lists the Milwaukee County Jail as one of two "non-cooperative institutions" in Wisconsin. That means the jail generally does not alert ICE about noncitizens in custody who are about to be released, nor will the jail commit to holding them until ICE can take them into custody. The Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office cooperate with ICE in some circumstances. They will detain, arrest, and share personal information of undocumented people with ICE — such as home and work addresses or the person's custody release date — if that person is suspected of terrorism, gang activity or arrested for violent felonies. In addition, Milwaukee Public Schools in 2017 passed a Safe Haven Resolution that says actions taken by ICE on school grounds "will be opposed by all legal means available." Some people say these on immigration enforcement are an indirect way of being a sanctuary city. But others, such as Comité Sin Fronteras, a branch of Voces De La Frontera, argue the county and city aren't sanctuaries because more could be done. The county, for example, could prohibit immigration officers from making arrests at the courthouse. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he had not received a formal notice from the federal government about the list. "This is another example of the Trump administration, you know, shooting first and asking questions later," Johnson told WISN. "It's exhausting trying to keep up with everything that this administration is putting forward. It's like they're just slapping things on the wall and hoping that they stick." Jeff Fleming, a spokesman for Johnson, said the city was surprised to learn of its designation. He said city officials have met internally to evaluate options on whether to take issue with it. In 2017, defunding sanctuary cities was among Trump's first executive orders, but it didn't hold up in federal court. Like Milwaukee, officials for Madison and Dane County said they have not been formally notified of their inclusion on the list. ICE identified Dane County as a 'non-cooperative institution." Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett earlier this year ended participation in a federal program that gives officers the authority to carry out immigration duties under the direction of ICE. The Madison Police Department does not routinely ask about the immigration status of people interacting with officers, nor does it conduct immigration-related investigations unless a person is is suspected of terrorism, gang activity or arrested for violent felonies. In response to making the sanctuary list, Madison City Attorney Michael Haas told the Capital Times that Madison is a 'welcoming city, and we make no apologies for that.' He said the city is 'exploring all options to protect our residents, our city and the funding appropriated to our city by Congress.' Shawano County, just west of Green Bay, wound up on the list despite 67% of county voters supporting Trump in the November election. The Shawano County Sheriff's Office and county administrator Jim Davel did not return Green Bay Press-Gazette interview requests May 30. Davel told the Associated Press the list was a misunderstanding. Shawano County had not approved any immigration sanctuary policies. The Shawano County Board did vote in March 2021 to become a 'Second Amendment Sanctuary County' that opposed any attempts to enact "legislation unlawfully infringing on our rights under the Second Amendment." However, Shawano County said it did not share the names of people booked in their jails with ICE, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and USA TODAY Network-Wisconsin survey of 72 sheriffs this year. 'We have no idea how we got on this list whatsoever right at this point,' Davel told the Associated Press. 'I think it was just a big mix up, probably some paperwork or something.' Vivian Barrett of the Green Bay Press-Gazette and Gina Castro of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump sanctuary list includes Milwaukee, Madison and Shawano County
Yahoo
2 hours ago
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- Yahoo
Milwaukee fatal shooting near 41st and Glendale, 18-year-old killed
MILWAUKEE - One person was killed in a shooting in Milwaukee early Saturday morning, May 31, 2025. According to the Milwaukee Police Department, at about 5 a.m., an 18-year-old was shot in the area of 41st and Glendale. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Police are looking for whoever is responsible. What you can do Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or use the P3 Tips app.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
ICE arrests unsettle Milwaukee
Voces de la Frontera Executive Director Christine Neumann-Ortiz (center) discusses the arrest of Ramón Morales Reyes with Attorney's Kimi Abduli (right) and Cane Oulahan (left). (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) A strange turn of events followed the arrest of Ramón Morales Reyes, a 54-year-old Mexican-born man, who was living in Milwaukee as he sought a U-visa — a type of visa available to victims of crimes. On Friday, advocates from Voces de la Frontera joined immigration attorneys representing Morales Reyes to dispute accusations made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that Morales Reyes — who does not speak or write in English — drafted a neatly handwritten note in English threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump. Voces de la Frontera and Morales Reyes' attorneys are calling for DHS to correct the record and clear his name. The affair began on May 21, when Voces de la Frontera received a hotline call reporting a possible sighting of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Milwaukee. Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, said during the Friday press conference that one of the group's 'trained community verifiers' contacted local residents who confirmed the sighting and also provided video footage of Morales Reyes being detained. 'His vehicle was left on the side of the road, and using the license plate we were able to identify the owner and communicate with his family,' said Neumann-Ortiz. 'Shortly after, Ramón's daughter came to our office to seek help. We assisted her in completing a power of attorney and ensuring that her father received the essential medication that was critical to his health. We immediately contacted attorney Kime Adbuli, who has been representing Ramón in his ongoing U-visa case.' Neumann-Ortiz explained that a 'U-visa' is a form of immigration relief for crime victims who have suffered emotional or physical abuse and who have helped law enforcement or government officials in the investigation and prosecution of a crime. 'It provides a temporary legal status, and a pathway to permanent residency,' said Neumann-Ortiz. 'In the past, the Morales Reyes family had sought resources from Voces.' Days after the arrest, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem provided statements for a press release describing Morales Reyes as an 'illegal alien who threatened to assassinate President Trump.' Noem added, 'this threat comes not even a year after President Trump was shot in Butler, Pennsylvania and less than two weeks after former FBI Director Comey called for the president's assassination.' Noem was referring to Comey sharing a picture on Instagram of sea shells arranged into the numbers '8647', which '86' interpreted as slang for 'get rid of' and '47' being a reference to Trump, the 47th U.S. president, NPR reported. Comey is now being investigated by the Trump administration. 'All politicians and members of the media should take notice of these repeated attempts on President Trump's life and tone down their rhetoric,' Noem said. 'I will continue to take all measures necessary to ensure the protection of President Trump.' The DHS press release included an image of the note, neatly handwritten in turquoise-colored pen and in flawless English. 'We are tired of this president messing with us Mexicans,' it began. 'We have done more for this country than you white people — you have been deporting my family and I think it is time Donald J. Trump get what he has coming to him. I will self deport myself back to Mexico but not before I use my 30 yard 6 to shoot your precious president in is (sic) head — I will see him at one of his big ralleys (sic).' The reference to '30 yard 6' may be an incorrectly written reference to 30-6 (pronounced as '30 odd 6'), which is a high caliber bullet for rifles. Morales Reyes' family says that it is impossible that he wrote the note. Described by his attorneys as a soft spoken, hardworking and committed family man, Morales Reyes works as a dishwasher. He was described as coming from a rural part of Mexico where it's common for people to have no more than a third-grade education. Morales Reyes had difficulty filling out paperwork, does not speak English and is not proficient in writing in Spanish. Neumann-Ortiz said that his family called Voces organizers, confirming that Morales Reyes had very little formal education, and could not read or write in Spanish. Since his arrest, Morales Reyes' family has received death threats on social media. 'They want his name cleared,' said Neumann-Ortiz. On the day he was arrested, CNN reported, Morales Reyes was questioned by detectives from the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), who suspected that someone may have been setting him up to get deported. Police were reportedly investigating jailhouse calls from a person who'd allegedly assaulted Morales Reyes during a September 2023 armed robbery. CNN reported that ICE agents were given a handwritten note by Morales Reyes with family-related information, and agents realized that the handwriting did not match. The questions surrounding the letter are reminiscent of those stemming from the arrest and deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was accused by the U.S. government of being a member of the El Salvadoran gang MS-13. President Trump held up pictures which had been altered to appear as though 'M S 1 3' was tattooed on Abrego Garcia's knuckles. Getting Morales Reyes deported would prevent him from testifying against the person in custody for allegedly attacking him, his attorneys said at the press conference. Attorney Kime Abduli said there are due process concerns around Morales Reyes' arrest, as it could interrupt his testimony as a victim in a criminal proceeding and also impact his U-visa case. The specific visa process which Morales Reyes is undertaking 'is really meant to offer protection to people who may be undocumented who are victims of crime in the United States,' Abduli explained. 'It's meant to encourage them to report those crimes, when they are victims of those crimes, to the authorities, and to cooperate in the investigation. Where a person may be undocumented and fearful of reporting these sorts of things, Congress basically established the U-visa to make it 'safe' for them to come forward with that information. As long as they're cooperating with law enforcement, the U-visa is intended to offer some protection for that individual.' Obtaining a U-visa can be a very lengthy process spanning seven to eight years at a minimum, Abduli said. Attorney Cane Oulahan, who is representing Morales Reyes in his deportation proceedings, said that ensuring due process is his top priority. Oulahan said that a bond hearing is expected in the coming days, where he expects the government to argue 'vigorously' for Morales Reyes to be deported. It's likely that the accusations from Noem's DHS will also be raised before the judge. The controversy and questions come as ICE attempts to expel another Milwaukee resident. Yessenia Ruano, a teacher's aide in Milwaukee Public Schools, was ordered recently by ICE to return to her home country of El Salvador in a matter of days. This is despite Ruano having a pending visa application for trafficking victims, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. On Friday, the same day Voces and attorneys held a press conference about the Morales Reyes case, ICE ordered Ruano to get on a deportation flight on June 3. Ruano will leave behind her 9-year-old twin daughters, who are U.S. citizens. Ruano's attorneys said that it appears that ICE is abandoning policies of waiting for processing of T and U visas, which protect people from deportation. Ruano has lived in the U.S. for 14 years, has no criminal record, has a valid work visa, and is employed at a bilingual public elementary school. She said she is hoping that a final legal filing could pause her deportation. Ruano's case spurred a flurry of condemnation from local Milwaukee officials. 'Deporting valued members of our community who are raising and educating our kids, assisting law enforcement in their important work, and giving back to our neighborhoods should alarm us all,' Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley wrote on X. 'These individuals are victims of a broken immigration system. The Trump administration told the country they were only going after 'the worst of the worst'. But time and time again, we see them targeting the very people who contribute the most — our neighbors, our coworkers, or friends.' Crowley said that he is 'deeply alarmed that our country continues to turn its back on our most vulnerable.' He went on to say that 'by not standing up and protecting our neighbors, we're not just failing them — we're failing our entire community. Due process is under attack, and that should concern all of us in Wisconsin and across the country.' Congresswoman Gwen Moore also released a statement, calling Ruano a 'beloved member of her community,' and declaring that 'deporting Yessenia will not make our country safer.' Moore said the deportation order 'will only separate Yessenia from her children and her community while exposing her to danger she was forced to flee in El Salvador. Instead of making America a beacon of hope for people like Yessenia, this Administration's focus is only pushing cruelty that demonizes immigrants.' Rep. Ryan Clancy (D-Milwaukee) said that the Trump administration's deportation of Ruano is 'wrong and harmful.' Clancy said in a statement that Ruano had volunteered at her local Catholic parish, worked in her neighborhood school, and was taking care of her family. Recent weeks have seen ICE and the Trump Administration focus more on Milwaukee. Since late March, at least four people have been arrested by immigration agents after attending regularly scheduled hearings at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Local officials denounced the courthouse arrests, only for Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan to also be arrested by federal agents for allegedly obstructing authorities by escorting a man sought by ICE from her courtroom into a public hallway. 'Yessenia is an asset to our community whenever she touches it,' said Clancy. 'Our community and her daughters deserve to continue to have Yessenia with us here, and Yessenia deserves to continue to build a thriving life with her family in Milwaukee.' Clancy condemned ICE, saying the agency 'continues to act arbitrarily and with cruelty. We must all do what we can to protect our neighbors from it.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Green Bay woman arrested after high-speed chase goes through downtown Fond du Lac
A 19-year-old Green Bay woman was arrested after a high-speed chase that ended in a crash May 30 in downtown Fond du Lac, according to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office. The suspect was taken to St. Agnes Hospital for injuries sustained in the crash. She faces possible charges of operating while intoxicated causing injury, first-degree reckless endangering safety, operating while revoked due to alcohol/controlled substance refusal, fleeing and eluding an officer, and three counts of felony bail jumping. According to the sheriff's office: At 6:37 p.m. May 30, a deputy saw the suspect's vehicle traveling over 50 mph in a 25-mph zone, northbound on South Main Street in Fond du Lac. The vehicle increased its speed to over 80 mph. The deputy ended the pursuit as the driver headed toward a busy downtown. The driver continued at a high rate of speed through the downtown, driving in the southbound lane at times. Near the intersection with Division Street, the driver struck a southbound vehicle. The driver continued northbound now on North Main Street, striking several other vehicles. The suspect's vehicle started on fire and stopped near the intersection of Merrill Avenue. The first vehicle that was struck caught fire. Deputies and Fond du Lac Police officers checked for injuries and provided aid "in an overall scene that spanned a city block." Three occupants of vehicles that were hit were treated and released. The suspect, who faces charges in Brown County and was free on two signature bonds, also has prior charges pending in Ozaukee and Fond du Lac counties. 'This young suspect, who already has a lengthy criminal history, left a massive path of destruction in downtown Fond du Lac on a Friday evening," Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt said in a news release. "She terrorized dozens of our citizens and visitors who were downtown to enjoy the start to the weekend. We're thankful no one was killed, and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured." The Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating the crashes. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay woman arrested after high-speed chase in downtown Fond du Lac
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
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More than 130 former judges blast Judge Hannah Dugan's indictment as ‘egregious overreach'
Over 130 former state and federal judges are urging the government to drop its charges against Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, dubbing her indictment an 'egregious overreach' by the executive branch. The Wisconsin judge was indicted in April after being accused of helping an undocumented migrant flee arrest at her courthouse last month. She faces federal charges of obstructing or impeding a proceeding and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest — charges that carry a maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $350,000 fine. She has pleaded not guilty. A group of 138 former judges filed an amicus brief in the case Friday, urging the government to dismiss the charges and warning that Dugan's indictment 'threatens to undermine centuries of precedent on judicial immunity, crucial for an effective judiciary.' The case 'represents an extraordinary and direct assault on the independence of the entire judicial system,' the former judges wrote. 'Permitting the prosecution of a state circuit court judge for conduct falling squarely within her rightful exercise of judicial discretion establishes a dangerous precedent that will chill judicial decision-making at every level.' The group argued that 'as a judge, she is entitled to absolute immunity for her official acts; this bar on prosecution is the same absolute immunity that is given to members of the legislative and executive branches for their actions taken in an official capacity.' Dugan's lawyers argued similarly when they filed a motion to dismiss the case this month. Her attorneys cited Trump v. United States, the Supreme Court ruling that determined presidents were immune from criminal prosecution for official acts. 'Judges are entitled to absolute immunity for their judicial acts, without regard to the motive with which those acts are allegedly performed,' her lawyers argued. Judges can make mistakes, the group acknowledged, but those mistakes are redressed in the judicial branch. 'When judges are alleged to have gotten something wrong or have abused authority dedicated exclusively to the judiciary, it falls exclusively to the judiciary, not prosecutors, to investigate the purported mistake through the appellate process or judicial misconduct proceedings,' they wrote. The 138 retired judges also blasted the indictment as an 'egregious overreach by the executive branch threatens public trust in the judicial system and the ability of the public to avail themselves of courthouses without fear of reprisal.' After her initial appearance in court on April 25, she was released from detention. However, the state's supreme court suspended her from the bench days later. 'It is in the public interest that she be temporarily relieved of her official duties,' the state supreme court wrote in an April 29 order. Friday's amicus brief came weeks after 150 former judges wrote a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi following Dugan's arrest. They slammed Bondi for calling judges 'deranged' on April 25, the day of Dugan's arrest. That same day, FBI Director Kash Patel posted a photo of the judge in handcuffs on his official social media account, writing: 'No one is above the law.' The Trump administration has repeatedly attacked judges, with the president himself even calling for one to be impeached in a social media post. The post prompted Chief Justice John Roberts to issue a rare statement: "For more than two centuries it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreements concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose."
