(The Center Square) – The plan to punish Wisconsin sheriffs who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials moved forward at the Wisconsin Statehouse.
Republicans in the State Assembly approved the legislation Tuesday on a straight party-line vote.
State Rep. Rep. Rick Gundrum, R-Slinger, said the legislation is “common sense.”
“This bill that targets the most dangerous criminals – the ones who are being charged for sexual assault, gang activity, homicide, and other high-level offenses,” he added. “It should not be a controversial opinion to remove these people from our streets.”
The plan would penalize any sheriff who refuses to notify federal immigration officials of anyone arrested for a crime, or any sheriff who doesn’t accept federal hold orders for illegal immigrants who are wanted by federal authorities.
Most Wisconsin sheriffs currently cooperate with ICE, but some like Dane County, do not.
Democrats in the Assembly argued that the punishment, taking away 15% of shared revenue, would handicap local sheriff’s offices.
State Rep. Alex Joers, D-Waunakee, also said it would give in to the Trump Administration.
“Policies like [this] destabilize our communities and the families that reside in them. I refuse to support legislation that threatens law enforcement officers into complying with policy that harms our friends, neighbors, and communities. This bill is bad policy intended to further President Trump’s radical and cruel immigration stances,” Joers said.
The legislation now heads to the Wisconsin Senate, where Republicans are also in control.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has already promised to veto the plan if it hits his desk.
“Republican lawmakers are trying to micromanage local law enforcement decisions by threatening to gut state aid by 15% for our local communities—that’s a non-starter,” the governor’s office said when the legislation was first introduced.
