Milwaukee – “A Day Without Latinos, Immigrants and Refugees” protest drew several thousand marchers in Milwaukee this week, as demonstrators pushed for immigrant rights, spoke out against recent nationwide arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and focused on the immigration enforcement policies of Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr.
The march started in Milwaukee’s predominantly Latino South Side where protestors marched to the Milwaukee County Courthouse to send Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke a message expressing no fear and blasting Sheriff Clarke for moving to make sheriff deputies Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers as a part of President Donald Trump’s immigrant deportation executive order.
The duties Milwaukee deputies would be charged with include identifying, processing, and detaining people believed to be in violation of federal immigration laws.
Latinos and other protesters from at least 12 cities across Wisconsin traveled by bus to be part of the march, which was organized by Hispanic advocacy group, Voces de la Frontera. Community members and supporters were also advised to stay away from work and school, close businesses, and avoid purchases.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page says the office “has not, to date, sought that authority.” The Sheriff’s Office says if it were to join the federal program, it would enter an agreement with ICE and deputies would be allowed to conduct interviews and get warrants as needed.
“This is a long-standard practice within the law enforcement spectrum, and we do not agree with the seeming premise that its use is now controversial because we are discussing immigration law,” reads a statement from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.
The demonstration was peaceful and ended without incident.
