Wisconsin's Governor Stands Firm Amid Arrest Threats

Wisconsin's governor, Tony Evers, is not backing down despite recent threats from a high-ranking official in the Trump administration. The official hinted that Evers could face arrest due to guidelines he issued for state employees dealing with federal immigration agents. Evers made it clear that he is not intimidated and will continue to do what he believes is right. The controversy began when Evers' administration released a memo last month. This memo was a response to state workers who were unsure about how to handle visits from U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The guidelines advised employees to contact a lawyer immediately and to ask ICE officers to return if a lawyer is not available. Additionally, the memo suggested that state workers should not hand over paper files or allow ICE officers to access computers without first consulting with a state agency attorney. They were also advised not to answer questions from the agents. The guidance provided by Evers is similar to advice given by Connecticut's Democratic governor earlier this year. It also aligns with recommendations from the National Immigration Law Center and other advocacy groups. These groups have suggested similar actions for when immigration officials show up at a workplace. Critics from the Republican party have accused Evers of issuing an order not to cooperate with ICE agents. Evers strongly denied this accusation. He stated that the goal of the guidance was to provide state employees with clear and consistent instructions. This would ensure that they have a lawyer present to help them comply with all applicable laws. Evers accused Republicans of spreading misinformation to create a "fake controversy. " Evers emphasized that he has not broken any laws or encouraged anyone to do so. He made these statements in a video posted on YouTube. The video was a response to comments made by Tom Homan, Trump's top border adviser. Homan had been asked about the Evers memo by reporters outside the White House. Homan's response was vague, saying, "Wait to see what's coming. " He also mentioned that supporting sanctuary cities could lead to legal trouble. Some Republicans seemed to welcome the idea of Evers being arrested. Republican Wisconsin state Rep. Calvin Callahan even posted a fake image on social media. The image showed Trump in a police uniform behind a handcuffed Evers outside the state Capitol. These actions highlight the tense political climate surrounding immigration policies. The situation in Wisconsin comes just a week after Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested. Judge Dugan is accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities. She allegedly escorted him and his attorney out of her courtroom through the jury door. This incident adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate about immigration enforcement and the role of local officials.