Empower Wisconsin | Dec. 20, 2019
MADISON — A bill that would bar local governments from establishing so-called sanctuary cities is making its way through the Legislature.
The measure, which would create financial penalties for cities refusing to work with federal and state law enforcement agents in pursuit of criminal illegal immigrants, passed the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform Thursday on a party-line, 3-2 vote.
As cities like Milwaukee and Madison attempt to thumb their noses at the federal immigration enforcement officials, the committee this week heard testimony from people hurt by illegal immigrants, many of those suspects previously deported for breaking the law. One father from Maryland spoke of his son killed by a drunken driver who was in the country illegally.
A Wisconsin couple described the financial hell they have gone through over the past dozen years, picking up the pieces of identity theft. The two men guilty of the crime were arrested and released repeatedly by law enforcement in an Illinois sanctuary city.
“There are numerous instances where someone who should not be here ends up hurting someone. Every one of those people impacted will rightly say to us, ‘Why are they here?’ This should not happen?’” said Mike Mikalsen, legislative aide for state Sen. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), author of the bill.
State Sen. David Craig (R-Town of Vernon), co-sponsor of the legislation, spoke to Empower Wisconsin’s Matt Kittle earlier this week on the Vicki McKenna Show, on NewsTalk 1130 WISN in Milwaukee. Sen. Craig is our guest on PowerUp, Empower Wisconsin’s podcast.
