Milwaukee County Tightens Control Over Federal Enforcement in Public Parks
In a move to regulate federal immigration activities, Milwaukee County officials have passed a new ordinance aimed at restricting federal law enforcement’s use of parks for staging operations.
This ordinance mandates that any law enforcement agency, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), must obtain prior authorization before utilizing county parks as staging areas. This decision aligns with growing local concerns over potential large-scale immigration actions, similar to those in Minneapolis.
The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted 15-3 to amend the existing county ordinance. This change was proposed before the tragic shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minnesota, a situation that heightened the urgency of this legislation.
Milwaukee County Supervisor Anne O’Connor highlighted the necessity of the resolution: “Since this resolution was first introduced, we have seen increased violence and death at the hands of agents of the federal government, making the passage of this resolution even more urgent.”
While the ordinance does not explicitly mention ICE, it requires all law enforcement agencies to have written permission to use parks or parkways for operational staging. This applies to local, state, tribal, or federal agencies.
Milwaukee County oversees more than 150 parks and parkways, and the ordinance specifies that “staging” refers to any pre-operational use of these spaces for actions unrelated to park safety or permitted events. The aim is to safeguard these areas from being used without proper approval.
Supporters of the ordinance acknowledge that it might not entirely prevent ICE operations in county parks but believe it could serve as legal grounds for future actions against unauthorized enforcement activities.
Opposing the measure, Supervisor Patti Logsdon expressed doubts about its enforcement potential, noting that the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office does not typically handle permitting issues. Supervisor Steve Taylor also questioned the ordinance’s enforceability during a recent committee meeting.
Critics of the federal immigration actions, like Supervisor Steven Shea, have been vocal about the need for such ordinances, citing recent federal activities in Minneapolis-St. Paul as examples of overreach.
The Department of Homeland Security responded to the ordinance by calling it “legally illiterate,” while defending federal law enforcement’s actions as necessary for maintaining public safety.
Advocates for the ordinance, including Christine Neumann-Ortiz of Voces de la Frontera, argue that it will help keep communities safe and ensure accountability. They urge the public to support the county board’s decision.
Exemptions in the ordinance allow law enforcement to conduct routine patrols and respond to incidents within parks, ensuring they can still perform essential duties without unauthorized staging.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has reviewed and plans to sign the legislation, signaling its likely implementation soon.
