The following program is a PBS Wisconsin original production.
>> The Golden Age of America has officially begun.
>> From immigration to the federal funding freeze,
executive orders from the white House unleash disarray in every
direction. I'm Frederica Freyberg. Tonight
on "Here& Now", Wisconsin lawmakers respond to orders out
of Washington and from a victim services agency to a tribal
nation. We hear the local impact of any federal funding freeze.
And finally, how one man's experience drives his mission
for better prison conditions. It's "Here& Now" for January
31st. >> Funding for "Here& Now" is
provided by the Focus Fund for Journalism and Friends of PBS
Wisconsin. >> As Immigration and Customs
Enforcement or Ice agents sweep the nation, making thousands of
arrests in what President Donald Trump promises to be the largest
deportation operation in U.S. History, communities, including
here in Wisconsin, are on edge. A state representative whose
district in Milwaukee represents the largest Hispanic population
in Wisconsin has introduced a bill to prevent state or local
police from helping to detain people in churches, schools,
hospitals and publicly owned buildings solely on the basis
that they are alleged to not be legally present in the U.S.
We're joined by Democratic Representative Sylvia Ortiz
Vélez, and thanks very much for being here.
today. >> How on edge are people in
your community in the midst of these ice sweeps?
>> I've never seen anything like it. People are scared about
whether or not they're going to come home from work and be able
to pick up their kids. People are scared if they're going to
be swept up in raids. Even regular citizens. And the reason
we're scared is because of the past history in this nation.
When mass deportations have happened, and also because some
of the directives that extreme directives that are coming out
of Washington, D.C. >> Would state legislation
supersede things like Ice directives?
>> Well, the way it works is they they can certainly perform
their legal duties, but the state is not required to help
them in that. And I think that's important to understand. As far
as I know right now, there has not been any funding coming from
the feds. And right now our state is all states are possibly
facing cuts from Congress. And in these uncertain times, it's
not very wise for us to spend money when we legally don't have
to, because we don't know what we're going to have.
>> Because your bill would also prohibit the use of state
taxpayer dollars from aiding in the deportation of immigrants.
>> Yeah. And that would only, again, it only applies when
there's no judicial warrant. So certainly if they have a
judicial warrant, they have a criminal record. We definitely
want to make sure our communities are safe. But what
we're afraid of is violating people's rights, being violated.
We're afraid that they're going to take people who pose no
public threat, and we're afraid they're going to take U.S.
Citizens. place of work or on the street
or in their car, and they are approached by Ice agents, is it
your recommendation that they ask to see a judicial warrant?
>> Absolutely. It is the law that I know it to be for more
than a couple hundred years. Everyone has the right,
regardless if it's a state actor or a local county, city, or
federal actor, to be protected against illegal searches and
seizures. >> How confusing are the
enforcements for people who are in the U.S. Under all kinds of
different methods? You know, like temporary protected status
or awaiting an immigration hearing?
because things are changing every day. Some people who felt
they were pretty safe in their immigration status. People who
already have a legal path have had a legal pathway, feel that
that could be at jeopardy. So there's a lot of fear as well
for people who are permanent residents, people who have legal
statuses, TPS statuses. They're changing every day. They're
being removed. And people thought they were safe. So
there's a lot of unknowns and things are changing all the
time. And quite frankly, it's causing quite a bit of chaos. I
think what Wisconsin needs to focus on is Wisconsin, and we
need to take care of Wisconsinites. I don't believe
we should allow the federal government to come in and
violate our state constitution. I expect them to follow the law.
And not do any illegal searches and seizures. And quite frankly,
it's a slippery slope. You allow them to do seizures, illegal
searches and seizures here. You know, where else does that go?
>> And so literally in where you live, there are people who are
not leaving their homes, not going to school.
>> So I was at an event yesterday in my community, and
there were I noticed there were a lot of people there that would
normally have been there, and they weren't. And it's
unfortunate because people are staying at home. People are
scared that they're not going to come back home. There are people
who are afraid that they're going to lose their homes
because, you know, we literally created a way for people to buy
homes that were undocumented. And they have made investments.
But more importantly, we're hoping that people get prepared
so that they have a way someone to pick up their kids at school.
I guess the worst story I've heard so far is a 13 year old
girl, a citizen in my district. She's been dealing with cancer
for the last five years, since at the age of eight, and both of
her parents are undocumented. Her mother takes care of her
every single day because she needs medical attention all the
time. Her father works, and there might be a time that
they're going to have to decide whether or not they leave their
daughter here, and she passes away without her parents, or if
they take her to Mexico and she doesn't get the treatment she
needs. But at least they'll she'll be able to die there with
her parents surrounding her. >> Sam Sylvia Ortiz Vélez,
thanks very much. >> Thank you.
>> It has been a head spinning week at the national level and
here at home, Wisconsin smacked with the potential loss of more
than $28 billion in federal grants and loans following a
Trump administration pause on trillions of U.S. Funding. A
federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze, and quickly
thereafter, the administration rescinded most of it. But for
grant and loan recipients, everything from Meals on Wheels
to Head Start to farm and housing programs. The chaotic
week has left uncertainty and anxiety in its wake. The women's
community in Wausau reports that federal grant dollars make up
about 20% of that agency's total budget. Executive Director Jane
Graham Jennings joins us for a firsthand look at what those
grants deliver. And thanks very much for being here. Thank you.
So at this hour, is it still confusing about what's happening
with the federal grants freeze? >> It is confusing. So our
federal funds come through state organizations. So the state
filters those funds, and when the initial freeze came out,
even our state administrators weren't sure of what was
happening. So then when it was rescinded, we still don't know.
And we haven't heard from our state administrators whether
there is an actual freeze or or not. So basically, we're just
continuing with business as usual. Because, you know, that's
just kind of where we are. But we're still very unclear about
what that means for our future. >> Does your agency have access
to those funds? >> We do it on a reimbursement.
So that's the way the grants operate. So we have to send in
the reports to the state administrators, and then they
reimburse. So we do that every month. So we don't have direct
access until after we have put our reports in.
>> Okay. And so you say that it is about 20% of your total
budget. What amount is that. >> So we did some calculations
and the percentage would be about $26,000 a.
>> Month. >> For our agency.
>> What are the services that your agency provides and what
would happen to those services without that money?
>> The most what we feel the most devastating impact, one of
the grants that we provide is called domestic violence Housing
First. And it's a pilot project that gives us the ability to
actually pay rent for survivors of abuse who are able to get out
of an unsafe environment and maintain a safe environment
because we can pay their rent for up to a year. So we actually
have someone in that program right now that we have promised
a year of her rent that we're not sure we can now follow
through with. We have several other people that we are
assisting with rent for three and six months, and we're not
sure we can follow through with those promises. Because they are
relying on that to be able to maintain a safe home. So they
are back in a situation that they have to choose between
homelessness or returning to a violent home. So that is the
particular funds we're most concerned about. And then for
our staffing, it would mean we would have to end our abuse in
later life program. So we have advocates that work specifically
with victims 60 and older. And those funds would mean we
wouldn't be able to support those advocates in our sexual
assault program. We have two advocates that are funded by
federal dollars that we would have to cut our sexual assault
services in half. And then in our shelter program, we would
have to reconfigure how we do that, because it would eliminate
funding for a number of our weekend and after hours
advocates. So we'd have to figure out how we could maintain
our shelter services. >> Big, big impacts there for
you locally. Now, the aim of the freeze was to ferret out
wasteful spending. What would you say to people who might
think your agency or others shouldn't get this?
>> That we shouldn't get the funding?
>> Yeah. >> I always say, if you want to
know how to really pay attention to your dollars, go talk to a
nonprofit agency. Nonprofits. You know, we're kind of given a
business plan that no actual business would ever think to
utilize. We are given the idea that you have to do all of these
things with nothing. And so we know how to squeeze to the last
penny to be as efficient and use every dollar in the most
responsible way. So I would say when you're getting federal
funds to a nonprofit organization, that's not
wasteful spending, people are on the ground helping other humans
in a way that they utilize every cent, because we have to report
several reports on every penny that we spend. So we have to
turn in all of our reimbursement forms. We have to prove that we
are using the funds. As we said we would, and we have to back
all of that up with documentation. So it is
certainly not wasteful spending. It is being used to help people.
>> Jane Graham Jennings, thanks very much and thanks for the
work you do. >> Thank you.
>> The 11 tribal nations in Wisconsin have dozens of federal
grant programs, including nearly $3 billion for tribal health, 14
million for broadband, and more than 10 million connected to
tribal colleges. Just how vulnerable is this funding, and
how might treaty rights be violated? Violated? Not to
mention the services provided if it gets wiped away. We turn to
Darcy Hill, chairman of the Oneida Nation, for his take. And
chairman, thanks very much for being here.
>> Yes, thank you for the invitation.
be potential impacts of any federal funding freeze?
>> Yeah, it could be. It could be quite large, depending on how
they're rolled out. And the particulars. So at Oneida, a
very large portion of our budget actually comes from federal and
state grants. So if it's just wiped clear, that would be very
detrimental to our community. And for employment levels and
for families and all that. We take care of here in Oneida.
>> When you got word that there was this pause or freeze on
these grant and loan programs, what was your reaction?
>> Well, you know, at first it was well, it's let's hope it's
not as bad as it's being made out to be. Obviously, as it
comes to tribal nations and how we're affected by the federal
dollar and government shutdowns and. Freezes like this is a
little bit different per se, just depending on what those
lines that are frozen and how they impact to the nation. And
so, you know, it's definitely okay, let's let's see what
happens with this, how these different departments are
handling this presidential order and see what exactly those
effects are on, on us. >> What about the piece that are
binding commitments and sovereign tribal nations based
on treaty and trust obligations from land exchange? Hundreds of
years ago? >> Yeah, that's always the
worry. You know, obviously tribal nations have ceded, you
know, upwards of 2 billion acres of land to the birth of the
United States. And in exchange for that land was, you know,
promises that we battle every day to hold the United States
accountable to the promises they made to our ancestors. For that
transaction. And so that's a that's an everyday battle, no
matter who the president is or who's in Congress. Tribes stand
up together to fight, fight those battles and do that
education where necessary to be able to bring to light those
issues when it comes to funding for tribal nations.
>> Does does this move seem somehow different or setting an
alarming precedent in your mind? >> I think it is alarming to a
certain extent. Just because a lot of the presidential orders
are pretty broad and so they're not specific enough for us to be
able to analyze and be like, okay, this is how it's going to
affect us, because a lot of it is just left up to the
discretion of either political appointees or long term
employees who don't necessarily have the authority to make the
decisions that they normally would. During these transition
periods. So it's really, you know, kind of like a wait and
see at this point how those decisions are made and they
trickle down through the system to have the effect on tribal
nations. >> As to executive orders coming
out of Washington, we've seen reported that some tribal
members have been detained and immigration sweeps. Is that
something that you're aware of in the Oneida or across the
state? >> I haven't have no been able
to verify any Oneida tribal members being detained or even
checked at this point. I know another tribe in the state that
they had some of their tribal members checked, but not
detained, just verifying their identification and let you know,
continue on their way to where they were heading. But for us,
we haven't had any verified accounts of anyone actually
being detained. >> Is it perversely in question
that all Native Americans born in the U.S. Are citizens? As to
this birthright citizen issue? >> Yeah. You know, the Snyder
Act passed in 1924, so it's 100 year old law. And so I don't
think that's really in question. It would obviously take an act
of Congress to reverse that decision, or the Supreme Court
to change these types of things. And so those are kind of long
processes that would probably see legal battle and the entire
way, you know, along the way, it's processed to the Supreme
Court. And so I think that's just a long standing law that I
don't think is in any question right now. But it is in the
backs of some people's minds as a threat to tribal sovereignty.
But I think at this point, it's a long ways off.
>> That's good news. Chairman Tehassi Hill, thanks very much.
>> All right. Thank you. >> In other news, with more than
23,000 people housed in Wisconsin's 36 adult prisons,
there is an ongoing effort by people formerly incarcerated and
those who run prisons to make conditions better. The
Department of Corrections tells us they're working with the
national consultant to examine its policies. Tonight, Murv
Seymour shows us how a Madison man travels the state educating
people about his time in prison. >> Reporter.
>> Use parole and compassion. >> Release.
month, you'll find a small group quietly advocating.
>> Stop, stop, stop the torture. >> One phrase at a time, on the
steps of the state capitol and at times, inside speaking at
hearings and lobbying legislators.
>> No more funds for solitary confinement.
>> Talib Akbar with the statewide faith based group
wisdom, is one of those people. >> No money for torture.
>> The message here is clear, and they're only allowed 30
minutes to deliver it. >> 30 minutes. You can do a lot
visually, mentally, physically. Youth parole and compassionate
release. just another number for them.
It's symbolic and personal. >> Overall goal is to make
people aware. People are locked down 23 hours a day. We've
chosen this day to represent these people, to stand up for
them. incarceration.
>> Talib Akbar estimates three and a half to four of it was
spent alone and isolated in a cell.
solitary confinement, anywhere from 360 days to 60 days. I
never would get out of here in less than 30 days. They call it
the hole. They call it solitary confinement. They call it
disciplinary separation. Overall, it's all of the above.
>> You're listening to sounds captured from inside an actual
disciplinary wing of a prison. >> The dimensions of the space
here is like ten feet by six. They'll place you in this, and.
And you have no other clothes on.
Talib remembers this space well. >> These are the clothes that
the prison guards were okay. And you get soft bottomed shoes
because they would consider this to be a weapon. You might be
able to see the clock where you are from the outside, but you
have no clock in here. The light stays on 24 over seven. I've
seen them strap them down. Take off all their clothes and just
leave them there. You know, some wild out. They defecate on
themselves right there on the table. You know that's wrong.
>> A concrete block bed and two inch mattress and blanket. A
cold concrete floor and walls. >> And it stays cold in here
because of the conditions of the bricks. But this is not the
place to punish a person. >> Talib tells his story of
incarceration and his efforts to change how people are punished
from the foot of a bed inside, not a real prison cell.
>> This is an exact replica. Pretty much.
>> Instead, it's a replica of one he built after his release
from Waupan Correctional Institution.
for anyone that hasn't been in a solitary confinement cell.
>> Drawing from memory, using a plain piece of paper, Talib hand
sketched every detail and dimension of a solitary prison
cell. He took the drawing to Edgewood College in Madison.
>> They're building a cell. >> Where students helped him
build it. >> There's a whole entire list
of things right there that can land you in solitary
confinement. It can be disobeying order, disrespect,
not obeying the order, the purpose of the exhibit, you
know, to make people aware of solitary confinement. What it's
like. You know, this is the box. You know what I mean? This is
the whole, you know, it's mentally affecting people, not
only the person who's in it, but also their family also. This is
an unwanted place for any human being. People who are mentally
ill should not be placed in solitary confinement, because
that's a condition that solitary confinement can't solve. There
are other ways to discipline a person. You can take some of the
privileges that they have leaned up against there, and see if we
can put it back over. No no no no.
travels Wisconsin and beyond, educating anyone who will listen
about the impact of solitary confinement.
here. Ministries church that sits in
the heart of the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison.
>> Okay. One, two, three. >> Talib and a few friends
pieced the cell together like a jigsaw puzzle.
>> My heart is just in this. People can understand where I'm
coming from when they see this project.
>> Once erected, the project will sit here for months to give
anyone who walks in off the street a tiny taste of what it's
like to be confined in a space like this.
>> Part of it, it's like, oh, it's really peaceful.
>> Eamonn Kalata is torn. >> And the other part of it is
like, is it peaceful or is it leaning more towards the
torture? Like torture, torture level? You know what I mean? I
feel like it can be a mixture of both. We're made to like,
interact with other humans and be around other people and be
strong enough to be able to share ideas and be vulnerable
and create things. >> That it was a like, visceral
experience being in there, something that really stuck out
to me was just the clothing items on the Bad.
>> Student. C.C. Babbit plans to work in social services once she
graduates. the anxiety within the tight
space. Michael Burch at The Crossing
Ministries, she advocated for this exhibit to be brought here.
She says its presence has her thinking about the future of
punishment. that we need to look into other
alternatives if we are able to repose our criminal justice
system is rehabilitative, rather than punitive. That might then
open conversations within the communities for just supporting
those who are impacted by our criminal justice system and
incarceration. Wisconsin Department of
Corrections tells us, most people in state prisons have
full privileges for recreation and programing. There is a
designation called disciplinary separation for conduct
violations. Doc says it is not solitary confinement, and
inmates there have access to visits, recreation, therapy and
programing. And their cells have windows. No matter what you call
it. >> Solitary confinement is a big
deal in in prison. >> Talib Akbar's efforts don't
stop with his portable cell. >> It's a moving billboard.
>> Near Madison's south side sits a nearly 30 year old box
truck. >> And it had nothing in it.
>> That he has transformed and repurposed.
machine. delivers his message and makes
his mobile exhibit even more mobile.
of confinement cell or replica cell of solitary confinement
that's been built in a truck. Recently I went to Detroit,
which is 433 miles. It's made out of wood, but it's to emulate
what is in the actual cell, which is steel, and that camera
stays on 24 over seven so they can watch you 24 over seven. And
give you directions from the intercom. People see that door,
which is most solitary confinement. Cell doors are red
and it's grabs their attention. >> Getting people's attention.
>> We've had dignitaries come in here just to spend a couple of
hours. punishment.
>> They can't do it. And then they write about it.
>> That's the goal of showcasing this roaming prison cell.
>> It's a battle that's going to take a long time. Stop, stop,
stop the torture. I'm committed to this. It's my life long
journey. It's like building a cathedral. One brick at a time.
>> Reporting from Madison for "Here& Now". I'm Murv Seymour.
>> As to the current state in Wisconsin prisons, there is now
a third party review in progress brought on following the deaths
of five inmates at Waupan Correctional Institution from
2023 to 2020. Four. Expert consultants will evaluate
everything from restrictive housing and correctional
practices to health programs and staffing. A report and
recommendations are expected later this year. For more on
this and other issues facing Wisconsin, visit our website at
PBS Wisconsin. Org and then click on the news tab. That's
our program for tonight. I'm Frederica Freyberg. Have a good
weekend. >> Funding for "Here& Now" is
provided by the Focus Fund for Journalism and Friends of PBS
Wisconsin.