By Gov. Tony Evers has unveiled new procedures instructing Wisconsin state employees on interacting with federal immigration agents, reflecting heightened tensions surrounding the Trump administration’s increased immigration enforcement.
The guidelines, issued April 18 by Wisconsin’s Department of Administration (DOA), lay out explicit steps employees must follow if confronted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at state facilities, according to DOA spokeswoman Tatyana Warrick. Warrick indicated the updated rules respond directly to state employee requests for clear guidance amid federal immigration officials’ intensified presence, according to a report by The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Under the new directives, employees encountering ICE agents at their workplace must immediately alert their agency’s legal counsel. If legal counsel is unavailable at that moment, workers are instructed to politely request that ICE officials return at another time. Furthermore, state personnel are explicitly directed not to hand over documents, records, or grant access to computer systems without first consulting with their agency’s attorneys—even if agents present a warrant. The memorandum also advises employees against answering questions posed by ICE or allowing federal agents access to secure or restricted areas within state buildings.
Anne Hanson, deputy secretary of the DOA, emphasized the importance of preparedness in a recent staff email, acknowledging that while actual enforcement encounters might be infrequent, state workers must remain informed and vigilant regarding proper legal procedures.
The guidelines quickly drew criticism after conservative commentator Dan O’Donnell brought attention to them, prompting backlash from Wisconsin Republicans. U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany denounced Evers on WISN-AM radio, accusing the governor of obstructing federal law and labeling him “lawless.” Likewise, the Wisconsin Republican Party condemned Evers online, alleging that his administration prioritizes undocumented immigrants over Wisconsin residents.
The memo comes as another Wisconsin elected official has been charged with breaking federal laws and obstructing ICE from arresting illegal immigrants.
Fox News noted that “the FBI arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan on Friday for allegedly hiding a previously deported illegal immigrant in her jury room in order to stop him from being arrested by ICE.
Dugan was charged with obstruction of an official proceeding after evidence came to light that she had shielded the migrant from ICE agents, according to a criminal complaint. She was also charged with concealing an individual to prevent discovery and arrest.
Federal agents from ICE, FBI, CBP and DEA attempted to arrest the illegal immigrant – Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz – following his scheduled criminal court appearance before Dugan on April 18 to face three misdemeanor battery charges.
Dugan demanded that the officers proceed to the chief judge’s office and – after his hearing ended – escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out a restricted jury door, bypassing the public area where agents were waiting in order to help him avoid arrest, per the complaint.”
Following her arrest, Democrats began defending the judges actions, again, essentially arguing that liberals are allowed to break the laws even though they did not have details of the case.
Pretty funny how Klobuchar says “we don’t have all the details” before concluding that the details are irrelevant and she must be right pic.twitter.com/8U4XcXshKX
— John Hasson (@SonofHas) April 25, 2025
Attorney General Pam Bondi took to Fox News to explain, to Democrats like Amy Klobuchar, what actually happened:
Wild! Attorney General Pam Bondi explains what really happened with Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan that led to her arrest by FBI:
"The Judge learns that ICE was outside to get the guy, because he had been deported in 2013, came back into our country, charged with committing these… pic.twitter.com/Af7a1JdJR4
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 25, 2025
Vice President has a more direct response to liberal complaints about not being allowed to break the law, one that Democrats used less than a year ago.
As the estimable Ro Khanna once said, "No one is above the law." https://t.co/62hy8XiSQd
— JD Vance (@JDVance) April 25, 2025
Democrats want it to be (D)ifferent.
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