Marathon County Sheriff’s Dept. considering partnership with ICE

13 counties in Wisconsin have an agreement with ICE to enforce immigration laws.

And Marathon County could be next.

There are different versions of these agreements, which are called 287g agreements.

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Department is considering a jail enforcement model.

That means local law enforcement can use their facilities to house people in immigration detention on behalf of ICE. 

The ACLU of Wisconsin has denounced the potential Marathon County partnership with ICE. 

Hannah Schwarz is a staff attorney with the ACLU of Wisconsin. She said ICE is turning to counties to ask if they have the space to detain people on their behalf.

“Partnering with an agency that has done roving patrols in cities across the country, that is racially profiling people, that is throwing tear gas at residents, that has been hauled before multiple courts that say what they’re doing is illegal,” she said. “Partnering with that kind of agency is just unacceptable” 

The ACLU of Wisconsin is also suing several county sheriff’s departments over their cooperation with ICE, including Marathon County. 

The lawsuit argues that sheriffs who honor ICE detainers are violating state law. ICE detainers are voluntary requests to hold individuals for up to 48 hours beyond their release time.

The lawsuit is also challenging the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department for notifying ICE of every person booked into the jail who was not born in the U.S., regardless of immigration status.

“That is a perfect example of the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office’s practice of disrespecting its community members,” Schwarz said. “And being willing to partner with a lawless federal agency”

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