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"Sheriffs are Willingly Enforcing Trump's Fascist Policies"
The owner of the Minocqua Brewing Company is launching an investigation of sorts into Wisconsin sheriffs who are enforcing the nation's immigration laws.
Minocqua Brewing Company SuperPAC founder Kirk Bangstad on Thursday announced that he has sent open records requests to the sheriffs in Washington, Winnebago, Oneida, Crawford, and Burnett counties to "uncover the extent of their collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement."
“These sheriffs are willingly turning their backs on their own communities to enforce Trump’s fascist policies, and we’re here to throw sand in their gears,” Bangstad said in a statement.
Bangstad and his SuperPac have a history of opposing the Trump Administration or pursuing progressive causes in Wisconsin.
The PAC sued Waukesha Schools back in 2021 when the district ended its mask mandate. The PAC financed the lawsuit against the Trump-electors in 2022, And the PAC sued again in 2023 over school vouchers in the state.
Bangstad said he is pursuing this investigation to stop sheriff’s in the state from becoming “ICE’s foot soldiers in Wisconsin.”
“These sheriffs are choosing to make undocumented immigrants live in fear, choosing to rip apart families, choosing to betray the basic values of decency and humanity,” Bangstad added. “And let’s be clear: this isn’t about public safety. This is about Trump and his allies in law enforcement trying to stoke fear, scapegoat immigrants, and carry out their authoritarian agenda.”
Most Wisconsin sheriffs cooperate with ICE on immigration issues. That includes notifying federal immigration authorities when they have an illegal immigrant in custody, or honoring federal immigration hold orders.
Dane County, quite famously, does not.
The State Assembly this week approved legislation that would require sheriffs across the state to cooperate with ICE on all immigration matters, or face a 15% cut in their funding from the state.
“We’re exposing exactly what they’re doing, and we’re going to make their lives more miserable for it,” Bangstad said in his statement.
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