Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez is pushing for a statewide proposal that bans federal immigration enforcement operations in public and private spaces, while she runs for governor.
Rodriguez unveiled the proposed ban on Monday, saying actions taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be banned around courthouses, schools, day cares, hospitals, health clinics, and houses of worship. She noted there would be some exceptions if federal officers presented a judicial warrant or believed there was an immediate threat to public safety.
The proposal was met with doubt from Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI), who was unsure if the state could do such a thing without opposition from the Trump administration.
“We can take a look at that, but I think banning things absolutely will ramp up the actions of our folks in Washington, D.C.,” Evers said. “They don’t tend to approach those things appropriately.”
In response to the governor’s statement, Rodriguez stood firm on her proposal.
“For too long, Democrats have dialed back actions in hopes President Trump doesn’t escalate, and that’s not what happens,” she said. “He always escalates.”
The lieutenant governor added that all ICE officers should be maskless to make themselves identifiable and carry body cameras to document their actions, which Democrats allege are unlawful at times.
Rodriguez introduced her plan less than one week after an ICE officer fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis. The incident has been politicized by both sides of the aisle, with Democrats calling for ICE to leave Minnesota and Republicans arguing for more law enforcement in the state.
Minnesota and Illinois filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday, asking a federal court to block ICE officers from operating in their states.
Rodriguez suggested Wisconsin should join other states seeking to hinder ICE actions. California, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey have similar proposals to the one in Wisconsin. For instance, a California bill banning ICE officers from wearing masks on duty went into effect on Jan. 1.
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The Wisconsin proposal would likely go nowhere in the state’s Republican-controlled legislature, even though the governor’s office is held by a Democrat.
Rodriguez is among seven declared Democratic candidates looking to succeed Evers in the 2026 primary. The two ran together on a shared ticket in 2022. Evers decided last year to forgo reelection for a third term as governor, leaving the door open for Rodriguez to launch her own campaign.
