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 U.S. From people
held in a county jail 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
Kewaunee 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 Joski
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? >> You know, this really doesn',
because you have to remember what we're talking about here
activity. 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 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 reached this level. I think of emotion 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. cause human suffering as a
result of immigration rules and laws?
>> I think when we talk about the next phase, you know, 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 that are 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 a reality where 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 an 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 US 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, you know, we do collect names and
information as any good law enforcement agency would. But as
far as specifically asking for a targeting that population,
again, there's really no merit to it.
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's it was a 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 the 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.
Joski from Kewaunee County, we really appreciate your time