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Wednesday, Apr. 30, 2025

Did Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers tell state employees not to assist federal immigration officials?

Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Watch
yes

A memo issued by Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ administration directs state employees to contact an attorney before offering any cooperation if they are encountered in the workplace by a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

ICE enforces immigration laws, including seeking and deporting individuals in the U.S. illegally.

The April 18 memo directs employees to:

Not answer the ICE agent’s questions.

Not give consent for the agent to enter a nonpublic area.

Call the attorney who represents their office and, if that fails, ask the agent to return later.

Not give the agent data without approval from the attorney. 

Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil of southern Wisconsin criticized Evers after the April 25 arrest of Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan. She is charged with obstructing immigration authorities from arresting a criminal defendant in her courtroom.Evers said he did not encourage state employees to break the law.

GOP lawmakers asked him to rescind the memo.

See a full discussion of this at Wisconsin Watch

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

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