MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Common Council is taking a stand against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The first pieces of legislation for the "ICE Out MKE" package was passed Tuesday morning, March 3.
"If we don't take a stand for people right now in the city of Milwaukee, I don't know who else is going to," said Milwaukee Alderwoman Sharlen P. Moore.
"Will this stop ICE? No," said Milwaukee Alderman Alex Brower. "But taking this action today will be a part of the voices across the country raised up in the street, in legislation, letting Congress know how we should be acting, putting pressures on elected officials, help to bring the tide to sweep change into the country."
Alders in past weeks have held several meetings, reportedly drawing in thousands of residents, and hundreds of emails asking for officials to take action against ICE.
"I've seen a few issues on my term of Common Council that have generated as much public interest and public engagement as this issue has," said Milwaukee Alderman Bob Bauman.
Some of the legislation looks to change how the Milwaukee Police Department works with ICE agents, ensuring they are on the side of residents instead of federal officials.
"We don't want them to be in the business of protecting ICE. We want them to be protecting residents," said Brower.
Yet, Milwaukee Police Association (MPA) President Alexander Ayala had said before that if federal agents call for mutual aid, Milwaukee police have to respond to keep the peace and help federal agents do their job.
Some are critiquing Milwaukee officials for focusing on this.
"This is just another way of protecting people who are non-citizens, illegal immigrants who are here illegally and should not be in the city of Milwaukee," said Hilario Deleon, Milwaukee County GOP chairman.
On Tuesday, only two of about a dozen pieces of legislation went through. Other pieces of the "ICE Out MKE" package include creating an "Office of new Milwaukeeans," three additional SOP changes for Milwaukee police, keeping ICE off of city property, and considering the use of the emergency broadcast system to be used to alert people nearby to the presence of immigration agents -- similar to an Amber Alert.
The city attorney also reportedly warned the alders that passing these resolutions could lead to Milwaukee being targeted by the White House as a "sanctuary city."