1 00:00:01,201 --> 00:00:02,903 criminal charges here will stick. 2 00:00:02,970 --> 00:00:04,738 >> We'll leave it there. Howard Schweber, thank you 3 00:00:04,805 --> 00:00:08,609 very much. >> Minneapolis is just over 4 00:00:08,675 --> 00:00:12,212 the river from western Wisconsin. Communities like 5 00:00:12,279 --> 00:00:16,283 Hudson, where immigration agents are also venturing 6 00:00:16,350 --> 00:00:18,519 "Here& Now". Reporter Erica Ayisi this week took a look 7 00:00:18,585 --> 00:00:22,589 at what's happening in Saint Croix County. 8 00:00:23,423 --> 00:00:26,627 >> Someone personally messaged me and they said, 9 00:00:26,693 --> 00:00:31,899 Kim ICE is downtown on Main Street taking somebody. Do 10 00:00:31,965 --> 00:00:35,202 you know, can you get a hold of anyone? 11 00:00:35,269 --> 00:00:37,471 >> Kimberly Solberg is a community advocate and one 12 00:00:37,538 --> 00:00:41,074 of the moderators of the Baldwin Facebook Community 13 00:00:41,141 --> 00:00:44,511 page. She says Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or 14 00:00:44,578 --> 00:00:48,348 Ice, has been in Baldwin since early January. 15 00:00:48,415 --> 00:00:51,051 Solberg says she sprang into action. 16 00:00:51,118 --> 00:00:54,354 >> I started reaching out to what context? I had to 17 00:00:54,421 --> 00:00:57,691 try to find out if people could get a hold of the 18 00:00:57,758 --> 00:01:01,228 farm and let workers know, just to be alerted that Ice 19 00:01:01,295 --> 00:01:03,564 is in the area, and to make sure that their families 20 00:01:03,630 --> 00:01:06,366 are protected. >> About 4300 people live 21 00:01:06,433 --> 00:01:09,436 in Baldwin, where farming is prevalent in this part 22 00:01:09,503 --> 00:01:13,373 of western Wisconsin. >> We have a very thriving, 23 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:17,110 rich and diverse community of Hispanic and Guatemalan 24 00:01:17,177 --> 00:01:19,580 people up here working at the farms and being part of 25 00:01:19,646 --> 00:01:21,315 our community. >> Solberg says the 26 00:01:21,381 --> 00:01:24,818 immigrant community is working in Baldwin legally. 27 00:01:24,885 --> 00:01:27,554 >> To my knowledge, most of these families are here on 28 00:01:27,621 --> 00:01:29,656 work visas. I know the people that sponsor them. 29 00:01:29,723 --> 00:01:32,459 >> Baldwin is about 50 miles from the intense ice 30 00:01:32,526 --> 00:01:36,396 activity in Minneapolis, but Solberg says Ice is 31 00:01:36,463 --> 00:01:39,266 active in the area. Have you seen ice activity here 32 00:01:39,333 --> 00:01:42,236 in Baldwin yourself? >> I've seen clusters of 33 00:01:42,302 --> 00:01:45,772 Ice vehicles, maybe almost a dozen vehicles or more 34 00:01:45,839 --> 00:01:49,343 clustered together, getting ready to do sweeps at 35 00:01:49,409 --> 00:01:51,979 apartment complexes. >> Were their faces covered? 36 00:01:52,045 --> 00:01:54,948 >> As far as I've seen, they've all, you know, they 37 00:01:55,015 --> 00:01:57,551 haven't had their masks on. And that might just be a 38 00:01:57,618 --> 00:02:00,921 different dynamic here in Baldwin, where they feel a 39 00:02:00,988 --> 00:02:03,657 little more comfortable here than they do in 40 00:02:03,724 --> 00:02:05,893 Minneapolis. >> Solberg says she's seen 41 00:02:05,959 --> 00:02:09,863 local Baldwin police present in Ice raids. 42 00:02:09,930 --> 00:02:14,168 >> I have seen personally local law enforcement 43 00:02:14,234 --> 00:02:17,271 assisting Ice and Ice actions, not the actions 44 00:02:17,337 --> 00:02:20,274 taking themselves, but they were local law enforcement 45 00:02:20,340 --> 00:02:22,976 were present. >> She was asked to start a 46 00:02:23,043 --> 00:02:25,445 group and connected with other organizations to 47 00:02:25,512 --> 00:02:28,081 share resources for Baldwin families who are impacted 48 00:02:28,148 --> 00:02:31,552 by Ice and afraid to leave their homes. 49 00:02:31,618 --> 00:02:33,854 >> Most of the people I know who give rides, who 50 00:02:33,921 --> 00:02:36,123 donate resources are terrified that their name 51 00:02:36,190 --> 00:02:39,693 gets out there. As somebody who is helping. 52 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:42,663 >> The I-94 bridge behind me connects Hudson, 53 00:02:42,729 --> 00:02:45,299 Wisconsin, to the Minneapolis, Minnesota area. 54 00:02:45,365 --> 00:02:48,135 And according to Solberg, it's invoking fear amongst 55 00:02:48,202 --> 00:02:52,105 local residents. She says they've seen Ice agents in 56 00:02:52,172 --> 00:02:54,274 Hudson, Baldwin and Woodville. 57 00:02:54,341 --> 00:02:57,578 >> For sure, those actions are going on in neighboring 58 00:02:57,644 --> 00:03:00,614 communities. >> In Hudson, Kiva Sherr 59 00:03:00,681 --> 00:03:03,317 says Ice detained an employee during his first 60 00:03:03,383 --> 00:03:06,186 day on the job at a grocery store. 61 00:03:06,253 --> 00:03:10,724 >> We have an Amazon drop off and pick up area. And 62 00:03:11,825 --> 00:03:15,229 so ICE went to that particular part of the 63 00:03:15,295 --> 00:03:18,498 store and detained an employee there. 64 00:03:18,565 --> 00:03:20,868 >> Schauer says some employees feel they're 65 00:03:20,934 --> 00:03:24,104 being profiled. She and other staff want to help 66 00:03:24,171 --> 00:03:27,908 support them if Ice returns, but she says fear takes 67 00:03:27,975 --> 00:03:30,077 precedence. >> Even though I want to be 68 00:03:30,143 --> 00:03:32,279 a good person and help, there's that fear of what 69 00:03:32,346 --> 00:03:36,550 are they going to do? Are they going to use tear gas? 70 00:03:36,617 --> 00:03:40,621 >> The darkest time, I'm gonna let it shine. 71 00:03:41,989 --> 00:03:45,125 >> Back in Baldwin, Solberg says the community is 72 00:03:45,192 --> 00:03:48,161 holding a vigil for their Minneapolis neighbors, René 73 00:03:48,228 --> 00:03:52,533 Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by Ice. 74 00:03:52,599 --> 00:03:57,171 >> It's about, you know, having a peaceful presence. 75 00:03:57,237 --> 00:03:59,740 >> To help each other heal. >> And being there for each 76 00:03:59,806 --> 00:04:03,477 other. It shouldn't be about politics.