criminal charges here will stick.
>> We'll leave it there. Howard Schweber, thank you
very much. >> Minneapolis is just over
the river from western Wisconsin. Communities like
Hudson, where immigration agents are also venturing
"Here& Now". Reporter Erica Ayisi this week took a look
at what's happening in Saint Croix County.
>> Someone personally messaged me and they said,
Kim ICE is downtown on Main Street taking somebody. Do
you know, can you get a hold of anyone?
>> Kimberly Solberg is a community advocate and one
of the moderators of the Baldwin Facebook Community
page. She says Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or
Ice, has been in Baldwin since early January.
Solberg says she sprang into action.
>> I started reaching out to what context? I had to
try to find out if people could get a hold of the
farm and let workers know, just to be alerted that Ice
is in the area, and to make sure that their families
are protected. >> About 4300 people live
in Baldwin, where farming is prevalent in this part
of western Wisconsin. >> We have a very thriving,
rich and diverse community of Hispanic and Guatemalan
people up here working at the farms and being part of
our community. >> Solberg says the
immigrant community is working in Baldwin legally.
>> To my knowledge, most of these families are here on
work visas. I know the people that sponsor them.
>> Baldwin is about 50 miles from the intense ice
activity in Minneapolis, but Solberg says Ice is
active in the area. Have you seen ice activity here
in Baldwin yourself? >> I've seen clusters of
Ice vehicles, maybe almost a dozen vehicles or more
clustered together, getting ready to do sweeps at
apartment complexes. >> Were their faces covered?
>> As far as I've seen, they've all, you know, they
haven't had their masks on. And that might just be a
different dynamic here in Baldwin, where they feel a
little more comfortable here than they do in
Minneapolis. >> Solberg says she's seen
local Baldwin police present in Ice raids.
>> I have seen personally local law enforcement
assisting Ice and Ice actions, not the actions
taking themselves, but they were local law enforcement
were present. >> She was asked to start a
group and connected with other organizations to
share resources for Baldwin families who are impacted
by Ice and afraid to leave their homes.
>> Most of the people I know who give rides, who
donate resources are terrified that their name
gets out there. As somebody who is helping.
>> The I-94 bridge behind me connects Hudson,
Wisconsin, to the Minneapolis, Minnesota area.
And according to Solberg, it's invoking fear amongst
local residents. She says they've seen Ice agents in
Hudson, Baldwin and Woodville.
>> For sure, those actions are going on in neighboring
communities. >> In Hudson, Kiva Sherr
says Ice detained an employee during his first
day on the job at a grocery store.
>> We have an Amazon drop off and pick up area. And
so ICE went to that particular part of the
store and detained an employee there.
>> Schauer says some employees feel they're
being profiled. She and other staff want to help
support them if Ice returns, but she says fear takes
precedence. >> Even though I want to be
a good person and help, there's that fear of what
are they going to do? Are they going to use tear gas?
>> The darkest time, I'm gonna let it shine.
>> Back in Baldwin, Solberg says the community is
holding a vigil for their Minneapolis neighbors, René
Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by Ice.
>> It's about, you know, having a peaceful presence.
>> To help each other heal. >> And being there for each
other. It shouldn't be about politics.