Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D.) on Friday pushed back against border czar Tom Homan’s veiled threat suggesting that state officials could be arrested for impeding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from detaining illegal immigrants.
“We now have a federal government that will threaten or arrest an elected official, or even everyday American citizens who have broken no laws, committed no crimes, and done nothing wrong,” Evers said in a three-minute video. “And as disgusted as I am about the continued actions of the Trump administration, I’m not afraid.”
The Democratic governor responded to Homan’s “chilling” warning, saying the federal government shouldn’t arrest or threaten to arrest officials “just because they belong to a different political party.”
Last month, the Evers administration issued guidance instructing state employees to consult with an attorney if ICE agents appear at state government buildings with legal documents in hand. The guidance also cautioned staff members against answering questions from ICE officials, granting access to nonpublic areas, or providing access to paper files or computer systems without legal counsel present — even when presented with a warrant.
“The goal of this guidance was simple — to provide clear, consistent instructions to state employees and ensure they have a lawyer to help them comply with all federal and state laws. Nothing more, nothing less,” Evers said.
“I haven’t broken the law, I haven’t committed a crime, and I’ve never encouraged or directed anyone to break any laws or commit any crimes,” he added.
When asked about Evers and his guidance, Homan suggested the Trump administration could target the Wisconsin governor if he’s found to have impeded federal immigration enforcement.
“Wait till you see what’s coming,” the White House border czar told reporters on Thursday. “I meant what I said. You can not support what we’re doing. And you can support sanctuary cities if that’s what you want to do. But if you cross that line of impediment or knowingly harboring and concealing an illegal alien, that is a felony. And we’ll treat it as such.”
Wisconsin Republicans in the state legislature are asking Evers to rescind the guidance, saying its aim is to “impede the work of federal authorities.” Following his latest statement, Evers appears unlikely to rescind the memo.
Last Friday, FBI agents arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan for allegedly helping an illegal immigrant evade arrest at the courthouse the previous week. The immigrant, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, was ultimately apprehended by ICE.
Dugan faces charges alleging obstructing a federal agency, a felony, and concealing a person to help them avoid arrest, a misdemeanor. She was also temporarily suspended from her job by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as the case proceeds.
Dugan maintains her innocence, but the White House argues it is only upholding the law by prosecuting a judge who broke it.
“We have to be proud of our country,” President Donald Trump said, when asked about Dugan’s arrest. “We can’t let these people stay. And the courts are allowing them to stay. We’re just not going to allow it.”
Earlier this week, Trump signed an executive order targeting sanctuary states and cities harboring illegal immigrants in violation of federal law. The order directs U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to notify those jurisdictions of their noncompliance and give them an opportunity to correct it. But in the event they continue refusing to comply with immigration enforcement, their federal funding may be pulled.