In brief
In a significant move, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has chosen to fast-track a case regarding the legality of holding immigrants at the request of federal authorities. The ACLU's lawsuit challenges this practice, arguing that local jails cannot lawfully detain individuals based solely on ICE requests, which the organization claims leads to unlawful arrests. A ruling from the court is expected by mid-2026.
MADISON, Wis. — A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to take up a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of an immigrant rights group, arguing that it is illegal for local jails to hold immigrant detainees at the request of federal authorities.The lawsuit comes amid heightened federal immigration enforcement activities in cities such as Chicago and Charlotte, with protests and lawsuits emerging in response.The Supreme Court, controlled by a 4-3 liberal majority, will review this case directly instead of letting it progress through lower courts, leading to a potential resolution by mid-2026.The ACLU filed the lawsuit against the sheriffs of five counties in September, representing Voces de la Frontera, an immigrant rights group based in Milwaukee. Their position is that detaining individuals based on ICE requests constitutes unlawful arrests.The lawsuit claims that under Wisconsin law, such detentions should not exist without judicial warrants verifying probable cause, alleging that local jails have been misapplying the detention authority.As the court prepares to hear this significant case, the response from law enforcement continues to advocate that adherence to ICE requests is compliant with both state and federal laws.
