OF THAT. >> WE HAD LEAVE IT THERE,
SENATOR RON JOHNSON. THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> TAMMY BALDWIN WAS UNABLE TO
JOIN US THIS WEEK IN SUPPORT OF THE BORDER SECURITY BILL, SHE
SAID, QUOTE, THIS BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE WAS A PROMISING
OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN HIGH TECH BORDER SECURITY, DISRUPT
THE DEADLY FLOW OF FENTANYL INTO OUR COUNTRY, STREAMLINE OUR
ASYLUM PROCESS AND ENSURE WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES RECEIVING
MIGRANTS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.
WEEK, WE HEARD FROM CITY OFFICIALS IN WHITEWATER WHO HOPE
THE STATE GOVERNMENT WILL SOON ALLOW MIGRANTS TO EARN A
DRIVER'S LICENSE. THIS WEEK, WE TAKE A LOOK AT
WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS DOING TO SUPPORT THE NEWCOMERS AND WHAT
OTHER SUPPORT THE CITY MIGHT NEED.
>> IT'S ANOTHER GENERATION OF FAMILIES COMING HERE TRYING TO
GET JOBS, FEED THEIR CHILDREN, GET THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH
SCHOOL. >> CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES ASSUME
ABOUT 800 TO A THOUSAND MIGRANTS FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
HAVE COME TO WHITEWATER SINCE 2022, STRAINING LOCAL RESOURCES.
>> WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST. >> Reporter: SOME OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE IN THAT POPULATION ARE CHILDREN.
>> TO REALLY, HOW CAN WE ADVOCATE FOR THESE CHILDREN.
>> Reporter: MIGUEL ARANDA IS A MEMBER OF THE WHITEWATER
SCHOOL BOARD AND A SECOND GENERATION IMMIGRANT FROM
MEXICO. FUNDING FOR RESOURCES TO MAKE IT
A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES AND THEIR
CHILDREN, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR.
>> Reporter: WITH THIS NEW INFLUX OF STUDENTS, ARANDA DA
SAYS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS MORE FUNDING.
WISCONSIN CURRENTLY SITS ON A $3 BILLION BUDGET SURPLUS.
>> COMING FROM THIS STATE, I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S NO
MONEY, WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR DECISIONS, BUT TO KNOW THAT
THERE'S A SURPLUS, IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE THE MONEY IS BEING
DWINDLED RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR FACES.
PLACES IN WHITEWATER THAT HAVE ACTED AS A STOPGAP TO HELP THE
NEW ARRIVALS. >> OUR MISSION IS TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, WHATEVER THEY ARE.
>> Reporter: CHRISTINE AND KAY ARE CO FOUNDERS OF THE COMMUNITY
SPACE IN WHITEWATER. THEIR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE
EVERYTHING A PERSON MIGHT NEED, FROM BEDDING TO FURNITURE TO
FOOD, ALL FOR FREE. >> IF THEY'VE NEVER BEEN HERE
BEFORE AND THEY COME IN AND SEE ALL OF THESE THINGS AND WE TELL
THEM THAT THEY CAN JUST HAVE IT, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
>> I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WITNESSING SOMEBODY COMING IN,
MAYBE HAVING THEIR WORST DAY AND COMING IN AND JUST NEEDING SOME
SUPPORT, SOME FOOD, SOME WHATEVER, AND SEEING THEM SLOWLY
RELAX AND REALIZE WE'RE NOT GOING TO ASK THEM FOR ANY
PAPERS. ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, LET US KNOW
WHAT THEIR LIFE WAS LIKE. >> THE COMMUNITY SPACE HAS BEEN
ACCEPTING DONATIONS SINCE 2019, BUT HAS RAMPED UP ITS EFFORTS IN
THE LAST TWO YEARS. >> I'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO SAY
THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CRISIS. HAVE WE HAD TO STRETCH AND
ADJUST? ABSOLUTELY.
BUT THERE IS NO CRISIS. >> WE'VE GOTTEN SO WE CAN
COMMUNITY PRETTY WELL. WE USE OUR PHONES AND THEY WILL
ALSO REACH FOR THEIR PHONE TRANSLATOR.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AND SATURDAYS AS A COMPLEMENT TO THE LOCAL
FOOD PANTRY. >> I CAN STAND UP IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE ROOM AND SAY IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT'S BILINGUAL?
AND INEVITABLY, I'LL GET A 9-YEAR-OLD CHILD, WHICH IS
AWESOME, AND I ALWAYS SAY TO THE CHILD, YOU KNOW, ISN'T YOUR
MOTHER PROUD OF YOU? TELL HER WE'RE PROUD OF YOU.
>> WE LIKE TO THINK HALF OF WHAT WE DO IS SHARE AND GIVE AWAY AND
THE OTHER HALF IS HOW WE MAKE PEOPLE FEEL.
>> CITY OFFICIALS ARE ALSO LOOKING TO GET HELP FOR THE
NEWCOMERS. HERE IS THAT WE KNOW WE NEED
RESOURCES. POLICE IN WHITEWATER.
>> THIS IS APOLITICAL. WE HAVE NO DOG IN THAT FIGHT.
WE SIMPLY NEED MORE STAFFING. >> HE SAYS OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS, HIS DEPARTMENT'S WORK HAS GOTTEN MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND
TIME-CONSUMING. BEEN DIFFICULT FOR US AS LAW
ENFORCEMENT IS JUST WORKING WITH A POPULATION THAT, GENERALLY
SPEAKING, IS NOT TRUSTING OF GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY COME
FROM A PLACE WHERE THEY DON'T TRUST THEIR GOVERNMENT.
>> TO TRY AND GET SOME HELP FOR THE CITY, MEYER AND CITY
OFFICIALS SENT A LETTER TO STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN
DECEMBER. >> WE NEED MORE OFFICERS SO THAT
WE CAN GET OUT AND PATROL AT THE LEVEL THAT THE COMMUNITY IS USED
TO HAVING US OUT THERE. >> BUT THE LETTER REQUESTED MORE
THAN JUST A BOOST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING.
>> THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE A POOR DOWN THAT HAS LIMITED
RESOURCES AND NOT ENOUGH SHARED REVENUE FROM THE STATE AND WE
WOULD LIKE TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING JOBS,
YOU KNOW, SHELTER, FOOD, ALL THOSE THINGS.
>> BRIENNE BROWN IS A MEMBER OF THE WHITEWATER COMMON COUNCIL.
>> WE NEED THE LARGER PICTURE TO BE IF CONVI FOCUSED ON.
THE CITY IN THE PREPARED. >> MEYER AND BROWN SAY THEY HAVE
HEARD FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS WHO SEEM WILLING TO HELP, PLUS
WISCONSIN SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN PLANS TO SEE WHAT SHE CAN DO TO
HELP BY VISITING SOON. RON JOHNSON VISITED WITH CITY
OFFICIALS BACK IN NOVEMBER. >> SO OBVIOUSLY, PRESIDENT
BIDEN, DEMOCRATS DO NOT WANT A SECURED BORDER.
>> Reporter: JOHNSON BLAMED WHAT HE CALLED A FLOOD OF
MIGRANTS IN WHITEWATER ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
BUT WHILE CITY OFFICIALS LOOK WHEREVER THEY CAN FOR RESOURCES,
IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES SAY THE NEW ARRIVALS SHOULD NOT BECOME
POLITICAL SCAPEGOATS. >> THERE'S A REASON WHY WE ARE
HERE. I DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS OF
LEAVING WISCONSIN. >> IT'S REALLY CONTRIBUTING TO
THE VITALITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE VITALITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.