ICE arrests in Milwaukee spark backlash from advocacy group
Milwaukee husband arrested by ICE
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed ICE agents arrested 39 people across Wisconsin over the weekend, a sweep drawing backlash from immigration advocates and families of people detained.
MILWAUKEE - The Department of Homeland Security confirmed ICE agents arrested 39 people across Wisconsin over the weekend, a sweep drawing backlash from immigration advocates and families of people detained.
Milwaukee man arrested at gas station
Local perspective:
Among those detained is 20-year-old Giovanni Sosa. His wife, Litzy Munoz-Sosa, said he left Sunday morning to fill up his gas tank and never came back.
Cellphone video captured an ICE operation unfolding in daylight at a Milwaukee gas station near 13th and Arthur. Belinda Sandoval said she saw federal agents corner and arrest Sosa and immediately started recording.
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"Yeah, it was right there at the gentleman's car. It was right there where they arrested," Sandoval said. "He was yelling at me his number and I said, ‘Okay, I'm gonna call your mom and don't worry,’ [...] but the way they took them…"
Munoz-Sosa said her husband came to the United States from Mexico when he was 4 years old. She said his passport expired in September, but he was in the process of getting his legal status processed.
"I was shocked, like, literally frozen," Munoz-Sosa said. "They just blocked him and they didn't even read his Miranda rights or anything, they just asked him for his profile identification and he gave him his passport."
Sosa is being held at the Dodge County Detention Facility. His wife said the arrest was physical.
"My husband did tell me that they left bruises in his stomach. He wasn't resisting," Munoz-Sosa said.
In another incident near Mitchell and Muskego, cellphone video showed another vehicle surrounded by unmarked units and another man arrested.
According to a DHS spokesperson, 39 undocumented people were arrested during a targeted operation, aimed at people with criminal records. ICE said the people arrested were "illegal aliens, many of whom had criminal histories, including sexual assault, DUIs, police obstruction, domestic abuse, property damage, dangerous drug possession, and other crimes."
Munoz-Sosa said that description does not fit her husband.
"He has no record at all. No traffic ticket. Nothing," Munoz-Sosa said.
Holding back tears, Munoz-Sosa said she is trying to stay strong for the couple's 1-year-old daughter.
"The baby calls for him, she sees pictures of him," Munoz-Sosa said.
She said the family is working with an attorney and hoping Sosa can return home.
"He has a family here and we have a lawyer and everything," Munoz-Sosa said. "Hopefully they let him stay."
The family has created a GoFundMe page to help with legal costs.
Voces disputes ICE claims
What they're saying:
Voces de la Frontera also shared images it said people sent of arrests over the weekend. The group said one clip from Saturday was taken near 26th and Mitchell in Milwaukee and showed the arrest of Estenderly Marte Polanco.
A neighbor, who did not share her name to protect her privacy, said Marte Polanco's 7-year-old son was in the back seat when agents busted the window.
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"He is terrified. It is terrifying. Watching a hard-working mother go through what she goes through. I know personally that she doesn’t pose a threat," said the neighbor.
Voces disputed ICE's characterization of the arrests.
"The overwhelming majority that have no criminal record whatsoever," said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director for Voces de la Frontera.
Galo Suarez said immigration agents were masked and chased him in his car near El Rey grocery store along S. 13th Street in Milwaukee.
"They had guns pointed at us. They didn’t ask us for our names. They didn’t ask us for our ID. They took us out violently out of the car," Suarez said through translation.
Suarez said agents broke the vehicle's side windows, but he was let go after showing his legal work authorization. He said his fiancée is being held in Kenosha.
Voces said others arrested are being held in Waukesha and Dodge counties, as well as in Chicago, Kentucky and Florida.
ICE arrests in Milwaukee spark backlash from advocacy group
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed for FOX6 News that agents arrested 39 people in Wisconsin last weekend. A Milwaukee immigration group calls it a "targeted ICE surge." ICE officials said the people were in the country illegally.
MPD parking lot use raises concerns
Dig deeper:
As immigration arrests ramp up in Milwaukee, police confirmed immigration agents used the parking lot at Milwaukee Police Department District 2.
"Some of this activity took place at a city of Milwaukee police station. We didn’t believe it. We couldn’t believe it. We were in shock. Yes, our response was: no, this can’t be, because we have the ice-out package that says that cannot happen on city of Milwaukee property," said Milwaukee Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic.
An MPD statement said the department did not know in advance that immigration agents would use the parking lot. Police said officials have since requested that immigration agents not use that lot.
Milwaukee Police Department (MPD)
The Milwaukee Common Council and mayor previously approved a non-binding resolution that says civil immigration enforcement should not happen on city property.
People arrested also reported ICE agents were masked. A Milwaukee ordinance bans law enforcement from masking in many situations. MPD said, given legal questions, the department has asked the city attorney's office for a formal, written legal opinion on the ordinance.
The Source: Information in this post was provided in part by Voces de la Frontera, the Milwaukee Police Department and families that were interviewed.