There’s stiff opposition from immigrant communities in Wisconsin to a bill in the state Legislature that would penalize local governments that pass ordinances barring police from asking crime suspects about their immigration status.
State Rep. John Spiros, R-Marshfield, the bill’s author, said the measure isn’t anti-immigrant. He said it will prevent local police from refusing to cooperate with federal authorities in deporting undocumented immigrants who commit crimes. The bill doesn’t require local police to ask about citizenship. He said it simply bars cities from adopting an official policy not to ask.
Madison Common Council Member Shiva Bidar Sielaff said the bill won’t make cities safer.
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“It doesn’t matter what the letter of this law says what you are sending is a message of fear and we will see people not report crime any kind of crime that is going on in your back yard and in your community and creating less safety,” said Bidar Sielaff.
More than 100 people testified against the bill at a hearing in Madison. Many of those who spoke were Latino immigrants from Milwaukee and Madison.
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