FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Erin Grunze, Executive Director
September 26, 2018 608-256-0827; egrunze@lwvwi.org
Madison – The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin opposes the dozens of arrests across Wisconsin this past weekend by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. The individuals targeted for arrest were not criminals, but rather family members who were taken from their homes, vehicles, and jobs. These individuals were often given misleading information indicating that the ICE agents were local police officials.
The League condemns the use of intimidation and force in ICE agents’ invasions on Latinx communities. This causes grief, communal trauma, family separations, and the loss of contributing neighbors within Wisconsin communities. We value all residents.
We must treat those wishing to come to this country with dignity and resist the urge to militarize the border, criminalize immigrants, or threaten the right of due process for all persons.
We stand in unity with individuals and organizations who oppose these tactics. And we look to assist those citizens who want to turn fear into power by going to the polls on November 6.
The League of Women Voters Wisconsin, a grassroots organization, bases this statement on the following national position, adopted by our membership in 2008:
In achieving overall policy goals, the League supports a system for unauthorized immigrants already in the country to earn legal status, including citizenship, by paying taxes, learning English, studying civics and meeting other relevant criteria. While policy reforms, including a path to legal status, remain unachieved, the League does not support deporting unauthorized immigrants who have no history of criminal activity.