The Milwaukee Common Council approved two items from a previously announced “ICE Out MKE” legislative package on Tuesday. One of the items was a largely symbolic resolution declaring the City’s general opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and calling for its abolishment.
Citing urgency, the Council voted to bypass sending the items to various committees for initial or further discussion. Instead, the items were discussed and voted on during Tuesday’s full Common Council meeting.
“I think we should make a statement today,” said Alderman Alex Brower. “I believe we should take action today to call on the City to oppose what’s going on with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and to oppose the very existence and call for the abolition of ICE.”
“I’ve seen few issues in my terms on the Common Council which have generated as much public interest and public engagement as this issue has,” said Alderman Bob Bauman. “Yes, it’s unlikely adding this to our legislative package will result in defunding or the abolition of ICE. I think everyone in this room recognizes that’s a tall order, and it’s action only the Congress of the United States can pursue, if even they can pursue it.”
“There has to come a moment where we put a stake in the sand and say we’re going to put people first,” said Alderwoman Sharlen Moore. “As the only immigrant sitting here on this Council, if we don’t take a stand for people right here in the City of Milwaukee, I don’t know who else is going to.”
Alderman Scott Spiker expressed concern over a just-received-by-the-Council email from the City Attorney. Spiker said he had “no problem with endorsing the sentiments [of the resolution] unless it has consequences that have real world applications to our ability to function as a city government.”
But Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic and others noted the resolution was not an ordinance, and therefore not legally binding.
“This does not require that type of review,” Dimitrijevic said.
The specific details of the City Attorney’s email weren’t disclosed, but Spiker alluded to the possibility of Milwaukee receiving backlash from the federal government if the resolution was adopted. Brower and others were undeterred.
“Adopting this resolution that calls for the abolition of ICE could potentially put us on a list in Donald Trump’s White House of cities that are sanctuary cities,” Brower said. “I am in support of us being declared a sanctuary city. I want to end up on that list.”
The ICE resolution passed unanimously, 14-0, with one excused (Alderwoman Milele Coggs). Here’s the full text of the resolution:
Substitute resolution declaring opposition to how federal immigration enforcement activities are occurring in the United States and amending the City of Milwaukee’s legislative package.
Whereas, Federal immigration enforcement officers have killed two people in Minneapolis during what government officials have called the largest federal immigration enforcement operation ever carried out; and
Whereas, The Associated Press reported on January 21, 2026 that an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo authorizes officers to use force to enter a residence without a judicial warrant, a move that advocates say collides with constitutional Fourth Amendment protections; and
Whereas, Minneapolis Director of Community Planning and Economic Development reported that Minneapolis is losing about $20 million per week in economic activity due to the federal immigration enforcement activities occurring there; and
Whereas, A United States Congressional hearing occurred on February 3, 2026, in which multiple people recounted recent harrowing experiences at the hands of federal immigration enforcement officers; and
Whereas, On February 3, 2026, United States District Court Judge Jerry W. Blackwell described how the federal government had flown an arrestee across the country to a different state, and when ordered by the court to release this person – who was unlawfully detained – the federal government placed an ankle monitor on them and released them in another state with nothing but the clothes on their back; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City of Milwaukee is opposed to the manner in which federal immigration enforcement activities are occurring in the United States; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City of Milwaukee calls upon the federal government to de-escalate the tactics being used during federal immigration enforcement actions and commit to respecting and upholding constitutional rights; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City of Milwaukee calls upon the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to avoid conducting civil immigration enforcement activities in Milwaukee, in consideration of the unusual and reckless approach that is occurring elsewhere in the United States; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City of Milwaukee stands against the practice of mass deportation and calls for the United States to welcome immigrants and provide a clear and straightforward path to citizenship; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City of Milwaukee calls for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and for the United States to humanely enforce civil immigration laws; and, be it
Further Resolved, That Common Council Resolution File Number 241415 is amended by inserting the following item in the document attached to the file as “2025-26 Legislative Packet”.
Equality: Opposition to Current Practice of Federal Immigration Enforcement
Propose state legislation declaring opposition to how federal immigration enforcement operations are currently occurring in the United States.
The second item discussed and approved Tuesday was another largely symbolic resolution calling for the Milwaukee Police Department to “protect the rights of community members when they engage in constitutionally protected speech and assembly.” The item was previously discussed at a meeting of the Judiciary & Legislative Committee on February 23. It was scheduled for further discussion by the Public Safety & Health Committee, but it, too, was bumped to Tuesday’s full Common Council meeting.
“We need to have a minimum level of expectation for [MPD] conduct,” Brower said. “And I do believe that if an ICE agent is violating our statutes, especially our criminal ones, they should be arrested by our police department.”
“As my colleagues have shared, this is a symbolic gesture,” Moore said. “This is an opportunity and a moment for us to symbolically say, ‘Who’s going to protect us, who’s going to protect the residents of this great city?’ […] The people that are supposed to serve and protect, and that’s where this Council comes in.
“This doesn’t necessarily put teeth in it,” Moore continued. “But this at least communicates back to our constituents that have showed up and expressed their concerns. This is a moment for us, colleagues. Let’s be on the right side of history.”
The MPD resolution passed 13-0, with one excused. Spiker abstained, citing concerns over vague language calling on MPD to “intervene” if the rights of community members or fellow officers were challenged. Here’s the full text of the resolution:
This resolution calls upon the Milwaukee Police Department to protect the rights of community members when they engage in constitutionally protected speech and assembly, and intervene to protect community members if anyone, including other law enforcement agency personnel, attempts to abridge the public’s constitutional rights.
Whereas, There are credible reports that federal law enforcement members are physically assaulting members of the public while they are exercising their constitutionally protected rights to speak and assemble, without probable cause that the victims were engaged in any illegal activity; and
Whereas, Members of law enforcement agencies should not be allowed to break the law or violate the constitution simply because they are employed as law enforcement agents; and
Whereas, All residents of the City of Milwaukee, including immigrants and migrants, contribute to our community; and
Whereas, All people who contribute to our community deserve a police department that defends them from violations of their constitutional rights, even if the individuals depriving their constitutional rights work for another law enforcement agency; and
Whereas, While bringing suit in court is an avenue that can be used to seek redress from constitutional violations, the public also expects that their local police department will actively defend them when their constitutional rights are actively violated; and
Whereas, The Milwaukee Police Department has expended tremendous effort to build trust between it and the public it serves, and that trust would be endangered if people are allowed to violate our residents’ constitutional rights without any effort made by our local police department to stop or investigate it; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, That members of the Milwaukee Police Department are called upon to protect the rights of community members when they engage in constitutionally protected speech and assembly, and intervene to protect community members if anyone, including other law enforcement agency personnel, attempts to abridge the public’s constitutional rights.
Separately, on Monday, members of the Common Council announced that MPD had agreed to adopt an addition to its Uniform Standard Operating Procedure. According to a press release, the addition “explicitly prohibits the use of facial coverings for the purpose of concealing identity, marking a major transparency and accountability victory aligned with the Council’s ICE Out public safety plan.”
Members of the Common Council first announced the “ICE Out MKE” package at a February 11 press conference.
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