Wisconsin Assembly Passes Anti-Sanctuary City Bill

The Wisconsin Assembly passed legislation (AB 450) yesterday that would penalize local governments for maintaining policies that prevent officers from reporting the immigration status of anyone charged with a crime. If a judge finds a city in violation, state aid could be reduced by between $500 and $5,000 for each day the sanctuary policy remains in place. The measure now goes to the Senate.

Rep. John Spiros sponsored the legislation following the death of Kate Steinle, who was fatally shot by an illegal alien after his release by the San Francisco County sheriff’s office. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had issued a detainer for the alien but the sheriff, following San Francisco’s sanctuary policy, refused. In debate, Spiros drew parallels between that policy and resolutions passed by the City of Madison and the Milwaukee County Board that tell the sheriff not to cooperate with ICE.

Opponents claimed sanctuary policies are needed to protect witnesses and crime victims who are illegal alien but proponents countered noting those people are already protected under the federal “U” visa.

Also Tuesday the Assembly and Senate cleared for the governor legislation (SB 533) that limits how local governments can issue IDs. Sen. Van Wanggaard introduced the measure after Milwaukee city and county officials proposed a local ID for those who cannot obtain the free ID offered by the state. Illegal aliens would be the main beneficiary.

“We issue a free, Wisconsin state identification card that has specific parameters to identify who that person is, where they live, what their address is,” Wanggaard said. “This is about identification and credibility for identification.”


Read more in The Washington Times. Also see a related Breitbart article by former U.S. Representative Tom Tancredo.