CBS 58 Exclusive: Following ICE Verifiers as they prepare in Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Wisconsin continues preparing for the possibility of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to come to our neighborhoods, though it has not been confirmed that they would arrive in force as they did in Minneapolis. One of the ways our community is getting ready is through "ICE Verifiers." In a CBS 58 exclusive, Montse Ricossa joined them - and even followed along on a call.
With a cup of coffee, every weekday morning from 7 to 10 a group of volunteers packs whistles, folds brochures, and prepares for the potential arrival of ICE. "I feel like we really are doing a good job preparing so we’re not caught off guard," said a volunteer.
The volunteers — who we are keeping anonymous — are part of different community organizations, like Voces de la Frontera and Comité Sin Fronteras. There are about 20 consistent volunteers who show up weekday mornings for what they call "coffee hours." All of them are "ICE Verifiers," meaning they go through training to know how to document ICE in our community and de-escalate a situation. One of the Comité volunteers explained, "It’s basically about documenting and bringing light and attention to it. Because they work really, really fast. It’s very rare we get there in time. They're usually gone, and that's why we canvas and go afterwards to say this is our hotline, this is how you stay safe. [Give out] whistles so everyone knows that’s happening, and these are the resources because it doesn’t just stop with us going out there once."
"If people post things online and it's not real, it stokes a lot of fear, and maybe they don't leave the house. So if we can go out there and say, 'actually, it was the police, and it was unrelated to anything to do with immigration, feel free to leave the house.' That's always something we can do."
That volunteer says Comité started organizing trainings in the spring of last year, and over 500 people have attended classes since then. "It seems very proactive. It was concrete ways to step up, to show up, to be educated," said one woman who attended her first Thursday morning "coffee hours" when we were there.
The group acknowledges the risks of what they're doing, yet they feel they must step up for those who can't: "it’s really our responsibility to use our privilege that those of us that are such an integral part of our country," said volunteer 1. It's a responsibility shared among the group who have formed their own bonds. "It builds community when you’re here consistently, getting to know folks you wouldn't have crossed paths with otherwise. It’s a wonderful dimension that’s kind of a side bonus to doing the work," shared a volunteer.
"We always say this work is hard, but when you realize you're not alone and you're in community and that’s the only way to hit them back," said a woman.
Together, they are protecting the community and their mental health: "It’s easier to not be overwhelmed by your anger, the anger that everyone’s feeling. To be active, to be doing something kind of takes care of that in a way. Makes you feel useful," said one of the women. Montse asked, "How do you manage those high emotions that, like you said, you don't really get a break from?" The volunteer sighed and responded, "The thing is we laugh a lot. We laugh a lot. People are always shocked about it. We try and laugh in equal amounts. There’s so much joy to be had and that’s a form of resistance."
"Coffee hours" were created as organizers realized many calls of ICE in the community came in the morning, particularly on the south side of Milwaukee. CBS 58 visited the volunteers on Feb. 19. The day prior, the tipline got 32 calls from across the state; 18 were verified. At the height of tensions in Minnesota, the tipline reportedly received 800 calls in one day.
Near the end of the "shift" we were documenting, a call came in of six ICE agents taking someone in a van. Three of the volunteers were "activated" to verify it themselves. The women walked around the area of the report, asking restaurants and neighbors if they saw anything. After several minutes and laps in their car and on foot, the group decided "it seems to have been nothing" as they were "diligent."
Though that call wasn't verified, the group is ready for the next: "I hope that at least us existing means that society, or like, the community can stay more active, or the same, and that we don't let fear win," said a volunteer.
"If you can't be out on the streets, there are other ways you can be helpful. That's purchasing and sending whistles -- another group puts them together, and another one hits the street. Every single facet is important in the whole change of things. Everyone’s role is important," said a woman.
The emergency hotline to report ICE activity is available 24/7 in multiple languages: +1 (800)-427-0213