We'll continue our coverage of that
race next week, including more on
the candidates and issues facing
Wisconsin's education system.
As deportations escalate
across the country, the state
assembly this week passed a bill
that would require county sheriffs
to cooperate with federal
immigration authorities.
The bill would require that
sheriffs request proof of legal
presence in the US from
people held in a county on
a felony charge.
and report them to the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security.
It would also require sheriffs to
comply with federal detainer
warrants, that is holding an
unauthorized person jailed on a
criminal offense for ICE.
Failure to comply would result
in the loss of 15%
of a county's shared revenue
payments.
If the bill makes it to the
governor's desk, he says he will
veto it.
The Kewanee County Sheriff has
weighed in on the immigration issue.
calling for keeping his community
safe, while at the same time
calling for compassion.
Sheriff Matt Joske joins us now,
and Sheriff, thanks very much for
being here.
Thank you for having me.
So you have said that you of course
are committed to protecting
your community by enforcing
the laws, but you see the
potential for quote, untold
levels of human suffering due
to the rigid application of our
laws. Does this bill strike
you as that rigid application
of laws?
I know this really doesn't because
you have to remember what we're
talking about here again is that
criminal activity Um, so that's
the separation there when we talk
about people that are in our
communities That are
committing crimes.
I think it's I think it's incumbent
on us, right?
It's it's absolutely our
responsibility as law enforcement
officials to collaborate and
cooperate at all levels.
We've been doing this for decades
It's unfortunate that it's it's
reached this level.
I think of emotion and
and feeling But we have to get back
to basics that we always have and
always will.
collaborate and cooperate with those
state and federal entities that
partner with us to keep our
community safe.
So what would in your mind cause
human suffering as a result of
immigration rules and laws?
I think when we talk about the next
phase, what we're seeing happen now
with this focus on
those criminal elements in our
country, again, I commend it, I'm
grateful for it because that is
in essence keeping our community
safe. But it's when we get to this
next phase, when we start talking
about those individuals, these
families, they're here.
how do we treat them?
And I think you're referring to an
article I wrote where we have to
make sure that we don't put
everything into one group, that we
treat those here for whatever reason
that they're here, but they're
raising their children, working
jobs, really trying to be
contributing members of our society.
I cannot imagine the
reality we treat them the same as
the criminal elements.
So that's where I make a
separation in how we process
it. And I hope that we as a country,
I think we are, I think we're smart
enough. I think we have the
capability. to separate this out
and do the right thing when it comes
to the families, to the men and
women that are here honestly trying
to make this country a better place.
So have you seen ICE in your
community removing law-abiding,
if unauthorized, immigrants?
Over the decades, again, this is
nothing new. Over the decades,
especially with the onset of our
large agricultural farms,
we have had ice in our community.
We have not taken active role in
their operations.
There's always a courtesy where they
make us aware of their presence when
they are engaged in their
operations.
But all these years, it's just been
a matter of awareness,
situational awareness and support in
the event that they would need us.
Now I read that your officers
do not ask for the status
of people pulled over in a traffic
stop or report people in
the community without legal
authorization to be in the U.S.
to ICE.
Why not?
Because at this point, there's
really no purpose to it.
I don't know where that information
would be relevant.
Again, it's not our role to enforce
immigration laws.
Now, mind you, when we do have
somebody, whether it's on a traffic
stop or if they're involved in a
complaint, no different than anyone
else in the community, we, of
course, we do collect names and
information as any good law
enforcement agency would.
But as far as specifically asking
for or targeting that population,
again, there's really no merit to
it.
Have you gotten any response to
your persuasion position
on this from other law
enforcement across the state?
I think that overall, I
would think that law enforcement
were very like-minded.
Again, our priority is keeping
our community safe.
But we also understand the
need for compassion, for humanity,
to look at this at a deeper sense
and not just take everything as sort
of a one size fits all approach.
So I do think there's a commonality
across the state.
You've advocated also,
however, without success for
the creation of a driver's card
program in the state of Wisconsin.
Why is that?
So that was over a decade ago, and
it was a moment in
time where the climate, I think, had
lent itself to maybe that
conversation.
But unfortunately, just as in
today's conversations.
it automatically goes to a sense of
entitlement or what is that,
granting them. And I think from our
perspective over a decade ago, it
was about public safety.
A mechanism by which folks could be
trained to drive and making sure
that they have the correct
requirements as you and I do to
operate on our roads, the ability to
have auto insurance.
So if and when they're involved in
auto accidents.
And then actually additional
criteria could have been placed on
it in regards to their obligation
in pursuing citizenship.
Now, had that been done over a
decade ago, we might be looking at
an entirely different landscape here
in the state of Wisconsin.
But again, unfortunately, a lot of
times, emotion and fear
takes the day and it never went
anywhere. So I don't envision in
today's climate.
that that would ever be
something that we could resurrect.
Well, Sheriff Matt Jostke from
Kiwani County, we really appreciate
your time today, thank you.
Thank you.
You are great,
sir, thank you. How long have you
been sheriff?
Oh, I'm in my fifth term.
So I've been sheriff, I'm in my 18th
year. Law enforcement, gosh, it's
gotta be like 32 years.
So yeah, I've been doing this for a
bit.
Yeah, were you, did you always
serve in Kiwani County or were you
elsewhere?
I started my career actually in the
city of Two Rivers and then came
back to the city of Keewanee and
then literally went from a
back shift officer to being the
sheriff. Ran for office in 2006,
I got elected. I literally went from
a New Year's Eve working a night
shift to New Year's Day becoming
the sheriff. So I had a lot of
interesting stories and learning
experiences along the way.
Great, I bet.
Well, thank you. It was really nice
to meet with you.
Oh, it was wonderful, let me know if
I can ever help in the future.
Thank you, sir.
Take care.