Ald. Brower stands by letter preparing for ICE operations in Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee alderman is sounding the alarm about potential U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Milwaukee, but a nonprofit immigrant advocacy group says there is not enough evidence that ICE is headed to the city.
A news release sent by Ald. Alex Brower said his office would go door-to-door delivering letters with resources to help constituents prepare for “a major ICE operation.” While there are no reports of increased ICE activity in the state, Brower said he stands by his statement.
“We’ve seen an elevated level around the state, predominantly in western Wisconsin,” said Darryl Morin of Forward Latino.
Every day on social media, posts claim Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are headed to Milwaukee.
“Each day, we get at least 8-10 fake reports. Knowingly fake reports,” Morin said.
On Monday night, Brower, who represents the city’s third aldermanic district, issued a news release stating his office would help people “prepare for a major ICE operation in Milwaukee.”
Alderman Brower
“We don’t want to be unprepared. We don’t want to be caught on our back heel,” Brower said.
Nonprofit immigration organizations report no increase in ICE activity in Milwaukee. Morin said the likelihood of ICE coming to Milwaukee was high, but following protests in Minneapolis, those chances have decreased.
“I like to think the threat level is down a little, but everyone should still be preparing in case it does occur,” Morin said.
Brower cited a report from WIRED stating ICE will expand its “legal operations” in several cities, including Milwaukee.
“We're doing this preparation to protect immigrant communities here in Milwaukee, and of course we don’t want anyone to have anxiety about this, but we want to do everything we can to get the word out,” Brower said.
Morin said the agency’s presence would harm Wisconsin’s economy.
“If they were to come here, it would significantly disrupt not just our ag and dairy industries, but manufacturing, distribution and service industries,” he said.
During a Feb. 3 teletown hall, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said he believes the United States has a border problem that needs to be fixed, but denounced mass deportations.
“I don’t support racial profiling; I don’t support sweeps. I don’t support mass deportations. Ever since that word was used, I was like, that’s not going to happen,” Johnson said.
Brower said he stands by his letter and is focused on providing resources.
“No. What we are doing is saying we need to be prepared,” he said.
Forward Latino says if you see claims about ICE activity on social media, you can report them to the organization’s hotline so they can be fact-checked.