Kenosha, Other Counties Push ICE Detainer Lawsuit to Federal Court

Attorneys for sheriffs in Kenosha and four other Wisconsin counties want a lawsuit over ICE detainers taken out of the state system and heard in federal court instead. They say immigration is handled by the federal government, and that 287(G) program is about federal powers.

The ACLU is trying to keep the case with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, arguing state law doesn’t clearly allow sheriffs to make immigration-related arrests. The court decision could affect how long people can be held in local jails for immigration reasons after they’d otherwise be released.