County sheriff’s offices across Wisconsin are deepening their cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, joining a wave of agreements that community advocates say are stoking fear and confusion in Latino neighborhoods.

As of May 2025, 12 Wisconsin sheriff’s departments, including Brown, Winnebago, Fond du Lac, and Washington counties, have signed agreements with ICE to collaborate on immigration enforcement through the Warrant Service Officer program or 287(g) agreements. Both programs would allow local deputies to detain individuals for federal immigration purposes.

Under WSO agreements, deputies can hold individuals who are subject to civil immigration warrants. The more intensive 287(g) partnerships enable local officers to question individuals about their immigration status and initiate removal paperwork. These arrangements have drawn strong criticism from the ACLU of Wisconsin, which warns they risk racial profiling and civil rights violations.

A Wisconsin Watch investigation in June documented the case of a Cuban asylum seeker arrested by ICE agents at his preliminary hearing in his asylum case, despite having complied with what would’ve been his first hearing. Three days later, he was shackled and flown to a detention center for expedited removal, underscoring concerns in immigrant communities that even compliance with legal check‑in procedures may not offer protection from enforcement actions.

Financial incentives are also driving the trend. Sauk County amended its jail contract to include ICE, effective April 2025, billing the agency more than $4,700 in six weeks. Brown County signed a $90,000 agreement to provide detention and transport services.

Local law enforcement framed the policies as logistical support rather than proactive enforcement.

“I wanted to make it clear, I don’t have the space to hold for long term,” said Sheriff Todd Delain from Brown County, Wisconsin, speaking to WLUK. “They could come from anywhere, just like if you had an FBI arrest, a DEA arrest, or a Marshals Service arrest.”

But immigrant communities say the impact is more complex, with many avoiding interactions with law enforcement out of fear of being flagged for immigration violations.

The state Legislature is also moving to expand enforcement. A bill sponsored by Sen. Julian Bradley (R-New Berlin) would require sheriffs to request proof of legal status from those who are being held in jail on felony charges or risk losing up to 15 percent of shared state revenue. The bill passed the Assembly in March and is now awaiting committee scheduling in the Senate.

According to the ACLU of Wisconsin, mandating sheriff cooperation with ICE detainers could violate the Fourth Amendment. Multiple federal courts have ruled that holding individuals without a judicial warrant, including under civil immigration requests, may be unconstitutional. ICE detainers are considered voluntary, not legally binding.

Gov. Tony Evers has publicly said he will veto the bill if it reaches his desk. “The idea that we’re going to punish sheriffs if they don’t comply, it’s just wrong ended,” Evers said to WMTV.

The community response has grown more urgent. The Milwaukee-based immigrant advocacy group Voces de la Frontera has reopened its hotline, expanded “know your rights” trainings, and encouraged families to prepare legal documents, such as power of attorney forms.

Following reports of ICE courthouse arrests this spring, Executive Director Christine Neumann‑Ortiz told Urban Milwaukee, “This is about due process rights and public safety for all.”

Mental health professionals report a growing toll. A Fox6 News investigation found that children in mixed-status families are experiencing increased anxiety, sleep disruptions and depression. Therapists say families are withdrawing from schools and skipping medical appointments out of fear.

As more counties sign agreements and the Senate weighs legislation, immigrant advocates warn that these changes are reshaping life for thousands of Latino residents across Wisconsin far beyond the politics of immigration.

Cover Photo: Canva