Milwaukee County weighs legal action over ICE park staging

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Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said the county is exploring legal options following reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been seen using county parks, including the Mitchell Park Domes, as staging areas.

“They’re breaking our county laws,” Crowley said in an exclusive interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Crowley, who is running for Wisconsin governor as a Democrat, pointed to an ordinance passed earlier this year that seeks to fine law enforcement agencies, including ICE, for operating in county parks without a permit. Milwaukee County supervisors approved the measure on Feb. 5, and it was signed by Crowley the following day.

The ordinance says ICE and other agencies would be fined $100 for operating in county parks without a permit. It does not apply to routine patrols or emergency responses carried out by local police departments and the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.

“I have directed our Office of Corporation Counsel to look into this matter to see what legal options we can explore to really hold ICE accountable if they are using are parks for staging purposes without prior approval,” Crowley said. “To put it bluntly, they need to get the [expletive] out.”

Crowley’s comments came as ICE said on June 30 it had arrested 39 people in Wisconsin over the weekend. Voces de la Frontera, an immigrant advocacy organization, said it had corroborated 26 to 28 arrests since June 23.

Many of the arrests have been in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee County Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez said he saw photos of ICE vehicles in the roundabout at the Mitchell Park Domes on June 29, then went there to try to show the agents the county ordinance prohibiting them staging on county property.

The vehicles left before he arrived.

City officials have also criticized ICE’s presence on city property.

ICE used the parking lot of Milwaukee Police District 2 on June 29, before being asked to leave by the department. That drew scrutiny from Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, who was among a group of council members who backed a package of bills aimed at limiting ICE activities in Milwaukee, including use of city property.

A Milwaukee Police Department spokesperson said in an email that the department asked ICE not to use the parking lot after learning it had done so.

“MPD did not know that Immigration Enforcement intended to use the District 2 parking lot,” the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to questions about its use of city and county properties.

Crowley said officials are working to determine which county parks and properties ICE agents have used and are urging people to document ICE staging in those areas. The county has also posted a “Know Your Rights” community resource hub with information available in multiple languages.

“We don’t appreciate the level of chaos and intimidation that they’re bringing to our communities,” Crowley said.