Republican Wisconsin gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany vowed on Wednesday to mandate cooperation between local sheriffs and federal immigration authorities, drawing a sharp contrast with Democrat David Crowley over President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown during their general election debate, Fox News reported.
Source: Fox News
The hourlong debate, hosted by WISN 12 at Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee on October 21, was the candidates' only scheduled debate before the November 3 election, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting cited in debate coverage. Tiffany and Crowley are competing to succeed Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
The ICE clash
Tiffany said Wisconsin law enforcement agencies should be required to honor federal immigration detainers, arguing that coordination with ICE allows authorities to remove people accused of crimes while they are still being held in county jails. "I will make sure that local, county and state law enforcement coordinate with federal law enforcement," Tiffany said in the debate hosted by WISN-TV.
Asked directly whether he would mandate that cooperation by law, Tiffany replied: "Yes, I believe we should. They should honor detainers."
Crowley opposed a blanket ban on cooperation with federal immigration authorities and said immigrants convicted of crimes should be deported, according to Fox News' account of the debate. But he called for restrictions on ICE operations in Wisconsin, including ending contracts with local law enforcement, prohibiting agents from wearing masks and requiring judicial warrants before entering jails and prisons. "We need to make sure that we're protecting people's civil liberties," Crowley said.
Taxes, surplus and the wider race
The candidates also clashed over Wisconsin's nearly $3 billion projected budget surplus. Tiffany pledged to return the surplus to taxpayers through permanent, long-term property and income tax reductions and said he does not want one-time rebates, while Crowley argued the money should also be used to lower family costs and fund public schools, municipalities, child care and health care, Civic Media reported from the debate.
Source: Civic Media
A September Marquette Law School poll showed Crowley leading Tiffany 49% to 46% among likely voters, a difference within the survey's margin of error, and RealClearPolitics rates the race a toss-up, according to Fox News reporting. Early in-person voting in Wisconsin began October 20.
For immigrant families in Wisconsin, the practical question in the race is now explicit: whether county sheriffs must hand people in local jails over to federal immigration authorities on detainer requests, or whether state rules should limit how and when ICE can operate inside those jails. Voters decide on November 3.