Respecting Immigrant Neighbors

Our constitutional rights are not negotiable, I will continue to pursue accountability to prevent the federal government’s out of control attacks on our communities. Congress must immediately pass comprehensive immigration reform to create a clear path to citizenship like President Reagan’s bipartisan achievement in 1986.

President Trump’s immigration crackdown has used unjust and unconstitutional strategies to detain individuals.  President Trump promised he would deport those with violent criminal records. In reality over 70% of the individuals ICE has detained have no criminal history, and even American citizens and people with legal immigration statuses have been detained or deported. People are being discriminated against based on their accent and skin color, their constitutional rights are being violated, and families are being torn apart. 

I do not agree with the mistreatment and methods being used by our federal government. We need to work towards immigration reform that provides a realistic legal path to citizenship for those who come to our country seeking a better future. I have been working with my Latino colleagues to create legislation that restrains ICE and other federal operations in our state:

•    SB 54 would preserve the sanctity of sensitive locations like schools, churches, medical facilities, childcare facilities, and public spaces like courthouses. It would prohibit state and local officials from aiding in the detention of an individual if they are being detained solely based on their immigration status. 
•    SB 444 would require law enforcement officers to identify themselves when arresting or detaining an individual by displaying their name and badge number and by not covering their faces or using other forms of identity concealment.
•    SB 355 would give Wisconsinites greater opportunity to enforce their civil rights by allowing them to sue federal agents in state court in addition to federal court.