Milwaukee Common Council presents "ICE out Milwaukee" initiative

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- At Milwaukee City Hall, leaders are responding to constituents worried about what might happen if Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents come to Wisconsin, asking them to work on a plan.

On Wednesday, Feb. 11, the Milwaukee Common Council introduced its "ICE Out MKE Initiative," which could have around 12 pieces of legislation, all aimed at "protecting public safety, ensuring transparency and upholding constitutional rights."

"We will do everything that we can. We can't do everything - we can't. We know we're not the federal government, but our people are asking us to use every single city resource and tool that we have to do what we can." - Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic

"People are demanding we both say and do something on behalf of the voiceless, our city and our communities, and amongst ourselves, we have been working to prepare for what we consider the unknown," shared President of the Milwaukee Common Council, José Pérez.

Alderperson Jocasta Zamarripa became emotional speaking about her constituents, a majority of whom are Latinos. She said it is her "duty to serve and protect my constituents, no matter their status... should ICE surge here, I will do everything that I can to keep our people safe," which was received with a round of applause.

Some of the legislation would bar ICE agents from running operations out of city-owned property.

Another would require all law enforcement to be unmasked with visible identification. Alexander Ayala, president of the Milwaukee Police Association, said he worked with the common council on and agrees that as long as temperatures are not dangerously low and impacting their working conditions, the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) officers will not wear face coverings. However, there are limitations on what MPD can do: "we cannot tell the federal government what to do or not to do with federal immigration."

A new office would be created under legislation as well, called the "Office of New Milwaukeeans."  Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic shared, "everybody in the city of Milwaukee will be welcome at all times. That's how you grow a city. That's how you invest in a population. And we are planning to welcome everybody."

While there hasn't been any clear indication of if or when ICE would come to Milwaukee, leaders say, they need to be prepared.

"We can't pretend that if we keep our heads down, what we're witnessing happening all around us won't show up at our doorstep," said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, the executive director of Voces de La Frontera.

This was only just introduced. The legislation still has to be drafted, discussed, legally reviewed, and go through committees with approval at least one month away.

The City of Milwaukee recently launched a Know Your Rights page, available here.