(MADISON)—Today, Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) issued the following statement regarding the surge in ICE activity which has led to the detention of community members with no criminal records, as well as those who have work permits and others who are working to obtain legal status:
“ICE’s operations in Milwaukee have proved they are not focused on apprehending criminals. They have targeted people with completely clean records making indiscriminate arrests based on skin color or accent while concealing their identities and violating local laws.
Sending masked agents into our community in unmarked vehicles is an attempt to spread fear. Instead of focusing on removing criminals from the street, President Trump’s agents are detaining productive members of our community who hold valid work permits, run businesses, work in our schools to help our kids, and contribute to our economy.
From surveys and conversations I have had with the residents of our district, it is clear that the people overwhelmingly oppose law enforcement hiding their identities with masks or other concealment when making arrests, that is why the City of Milwaukee took action to prohibit this practice, which Trump’s agents are openly violating.
President Trump should be focused on reducing the cost of living for the American people like he promised, instead his obsessions and lack of concern for the issues hurting Americans are making the Trump affordability crisis worse by the day. The president needs to stop attacking our communities and start making good on his promises to improve the lives of Americans.”
