Illegal immigration is an issue of great importance to many Waukesha County voters. Retiring Sheriff Eric Severson was a regional leader when he successfully sought 287g immigration authority years ago for the Waukesha County Jail. This allows deputies to perform federal immigration functions in the jail, screening inmates for deportation orders and immigration status.
Since that time, other Wisconsin jails have followed suit, and the ACLU is trying to get the liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court to ban sheriffs from entering into 287g agreements. The Sheriff’s Department website explains that the mission of the program is: “To protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of our communities and the integrity of our immigration laws.”
“The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 added Section 287(g) to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This section of the law authorizes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to delegate the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions to state and local law enforcement officers, under the direction and oversight of ICE, pursuant to a signed memorandum of agreement (MOA),” the website says…