Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett calls for review of ICE arrest, MPD's involvement
MILWAUKEE -- There is controversy over the Milwaukee Police Department's assistance in a recent ICE arrest. Now, Mayor Tom Barrett is calling for the Fire and Police Commission to review the incident.
Kristine De La Cruz
"Without him, I don't know how we are going to survive," said Kristine De La Cruz.
De La Cruz spoke at Milwaukee City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 26, three days after her husband, Jose De La Cruz-Espinosa, was detained by Immigration and Custom's Enforcement (ICE) with an assist by Milwaukee police.
"If you asked those that knew my husband what he was like, what kind of man he was, they would tell you he is a hard worker," De La Cruz said.
Video of the arrest was captured on camera.
ICE arrest of Jose De La Cruz-Espinosa
ICE requested the help of Milwaukee police after agents say De La Cruz-Espinosa refused to get out of a car during a traffic stop. Police say De La Cruz-Espinosa was on probation for illegally concealing a firearm. While officers were on the scene, the Department of Corrections issued a warrant for his arrest.
ICE arrest of Jose De La Cruz-Espinosa
Milwaukee police tell FOX6 News on Thursday night, it was because of that warrant, not his immigration status, De La Cruz-Espinosa was arrested.
Christine Neumann-Ortiz of Voces de la Frontera is protesting the officers' involvement.
"We need strong, clear language to ensure there will be no collaboration. No wiggle room," Neumann-Ortiz said.
Mayor Barrett is also asking for the Fire and Police Commission to review the incident. He said police officers should focus on violent crimes and drug activity, "while the federal government is responsible to enforce and utilize its resources on immigration issues."
In the meantime, De La Cruz-Espinosa is being held in Dodge County.
The Fire and Police Commission was scheduled to meet Thursday evening, but the meeting was canceled. The panel is now scheduled to meet on Oct. 3.
Milwaukee Police Department statement
"On Monday, September 23, 2019, the Milwaukee Police Department responded to a request for assistance from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the 2100 block of South 5th Street.
"Before MPD arrived at the scene, ICE agents had conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle. ICE agents advised MPD officers that they had a warrant for a subject located in the vehicle, later identified as Jose De La Cruz-Espinosa, and that the subject refused to exit the vehicle. De La Cruz-Espinosa was on probation for a 2017 Milwaukee County case for illegally concealing a firearm.
"While officers were on scene, the Department of Corrections issued a violation of probation (VOP) warrant for De La Cruz-Espinosa’s arrest. Because of this warrant, and not because of his immigration status, MPD assisted in De La Cruz-Espinosa’s arrest. ICE agents ultimately took him into custody."