The Wisconsin Supreme Court will directly hear a case brought by the ACLU on behalf of an immigrant rights group challenging the legality of local jails holding immigrant detainees at the request of federal authorities. The court, controlled 4-3 by liberal justices, will expedite the process, potentially reaching a final ruling by mid-2026. The lawsuit, filed against five county sheriffs, argues that honoring ICE detainers, which extend detention beyond state law requirements, constitutes illegal arrests. The ACLU contends that this practice, which has seen over 700 requests in the first seven months of the year, violates Wisconsin law, while the sheriffs maintain their actions are lawful within the existing framework.
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In Westbury, NY, U.S. citizen Elzon Lemus, a 23-year-old electrician, was handcuffed and detained by ICE agents for 25 minutes after being pulled over in his work van. The agents, who lacked a clear reason for the stop beyond Lemus’s appearance, demanded his ID and threatened further action if he refused. After verifying his citizenship, the agents released Lemus without apology or explanation, refusing to provide their names or badge numbers. This incident, recorded on Lemus’s phone, has prompted calls for a Department of Justice investigation and highlights concerns about racial profiling and potential constitutional violations.
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U.S. citizen Leonardo Garcia Venegas was arrested during an Alabama immigration raid, despite presenting a REAL ID, which authorities dismissed as fraudulent. Video footage shows Garcia being forcefully detained, handcuffed, and held in a vehicle before his release upon providing his Social Security number. The Department of Homeland Security claims Garcia interfered with the arrest, a claim he denies, stating he was attempting to use his phone. This incident, along with the detention of his undocumented brother, highlights concerns about racial profiling and the chilling effect of such raids on the Hispanic community.
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Federal authorities are unlawfully detaining Venezuelans with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in violation of the law, which prohibits their detention based on immigration status alone. These arrests are occurring in various locations, including homes and immigration check-ins, despite the individuals possessing legal permission to live and work in the U.S. The Trump administration’s attempts to revoke TPS for Venezuelans, though temporarily blocked by a judge, appear to be motivating these actions, possibly as a prelude to mass deportations. Attorneys report a pattern of baseless accusations, including alleged ties to criminal organizations, being used to justify these detentions. This blatant disregard for the law underscores the need for community action and judicial oversight to hold the administration accountable.
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U.S. citizen Julio Noriega, 54, was unlawfully arrested and detained by ICE for ten hours after being apprehended in Berwyn, Illinois. Despite possessing identification proving his citizenship, which ICE confiscated, he was neither questioned nor presented with a warrant. This incident is one of 22 similar cases filed by Immigrant Justice, alleging ICE’s disregard for the Nava Settlement and continued violation of civil rights. The arrests appear to target individuals based on their appearance, rather than legal grounds.
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John Q. Hosedrinker