Milwaukee County Sheriff changes department's stance on immigration

MILWAUKEE COUNTY (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas is changing the department's stance on immigration.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Lucas said the county will no longer hold inmates or communicate with ICE.

The Sheriff says his decision is an attempt to avoid costly lawsuits that authorities in other states have faced.

Lucas says the policy change is not politically motivated.

"Those individuals that are simply here because the documentation isn't consistent or accurate, if you will, again once they satisfy whatever local charges, we will be releasing those individuals back out," said Sheriff Lucas.

Sheriff Lucas says his department will provide information on an inmate if a judge signs a warrant.

Lucas replaced Acting Sheriff Richard Schmidt in January.