Several state lawmakers introduced a bill that would keep the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement out of “safe havens” throughout Wisconsin, according to Wisconsin Watch.
Former President Joe Biden issued guidelines in October 2021 that created restricted or protected areas, also known as safe havens, where immigration enforcement officers were prohibited from entering.
This includes schools, medical and mental health facilities, places of worship or religious study, locations where children gather, social service establishments, sites providing emergency or disaster relief and venues for funerals, weddings, parades, demonstrations and rallies, according to the guidelines.
The day after the Trump administration moved into the White House, the Department of Homeland Security announced the cancellation of these Biden-era guidelines — eliminating ‘safe havens’ and allowing ICE to enter these areas.
ICE officers can detain or arrest people in Wisconsin for immigration violations inside churches, schools and hospitals, but the newly-introduced Wisconsin bill would ensure these places are protected from detainments by ICE, according to Wisconsin Watch.
With the passing of this legislation, there would likely have to be more guidance on how to communicate to individuals about places that identify as ‘safe havens,’ according to Catholic Multicultural Center Grants and Communications Coordinator Laura Green.
The CMC is a social service agency aiming to help people meet their short and long-term needs. Everyone is welcome to use their services, and a big portion of their clientele includes immigrants from all over the world, Green said.
“I think it would be helpful if there were some suggested language of signage, so anyone who is in safe havens could put up that signage and have it look consistent among all of the places,” Green said.
Installing safe havens in Wisconsin would help people feel safe accessing services from places like CMC, according to Green.
Many of the people the CMC serves have had their immigration status removed because of policies passed by the Trump administration, according to an email statement from CMC director Steve Maurice.
Prior to the executive orders, many immigrants were in the U.S. with legal status but are now fearful of deportation, Maurice said in the email.
“For students who are not immigrants, our immigrant neighbors need us as allies now more than ever, so educating ourselves about these issues and how it impacts people is very important,” Green said.
For example, it is essential to know ICE officers are not allowed to detain individuals without some form of warrant, according to VOCES President Karen Romo.
VOCES is a non-partisan, student-led organization at the University of Wisconsin that works to promote a secure and safe environment for nearby communities who would be at risk of deportation, Romo said.
“That [education] is something we have been working on through ‘Know Your Rights’ workshops, on what a judicial warrant looks like, what it doesn’t look like, what a detention or deportation warrant looks like and learning to differentiate between them,” Romo said.
ICE officers must use appropriate legal processes if they are on campus, and they generally cannot enter an on-campus private residence without a proper warrant, according to a 2019 statement from the UW-Madison Police Department.
Currently, VOCES is collaborating with attorneys to help families feel prepared if ever encountering an ICE officer, and it has been hosting Know your Rights workshops to educate students and professors, according to Romo.
“We know we aren’t going to be able to get in touch with every single immigrant in Madison or in Wisconsin, so we are trying to spread the word around so more people know about what their rights are — not [just] as citizens of the United States but as human beings,” Romo said.
To inform students about safe havens on campus, Romo encourages students to reach out to her through the VOCES Instagram or connect through Signal Messenger, an app that is more private and safer to use compared to most traditional messaging apps.
Safe havens are not only resources organizations can reference, but also provide community, according to VOCES Co-Vice President Lilia Juarez.
In a time of uncertainty for many immigrant families, Juarez and Romo said to stay informed and aware of resources that are available to immigrants and their families.
“The most important thing is utilizing our voice to defend or help one another who is in danger, who might need a hand to hold,” Juarez said. “I think overall, you’re not alone. There are going to be small communities like these that will bring not only the better of you but also the better of the person who may need it.”
Students may reach out to the Dean of Students Office, which provides assistance and support for the academic and non-academic success of students who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or students who entered the country illegally.
