The following letter was read during our Vigil for the Victims of ICE.
ICE in Wisconsin
1/19/26
Kenosha, WI
Justice requires all people, and especially people of faith, to be vocal about the immorality of the ICE raids in U.S. cities. Congregations United to Serve Humanity includes numerous faith traditions which share a belief in the sanctity of human life, and in the importance of truth-telling. The increasing brutality and impunity with which ICE agents are conducting raids demonstrates extreme cruelty and disregard for life. This compels us to speak up and demand better of our public institutions.
We grieve with the family of Renee Nicole Good, a young mother murdered as she observed an ICE raid in Minneapolis, and with all the others who have suffered injury, abuse and denial of legal and human rights by ICE. We mourn the fact that Ms. Good’s family joins so many other families whose lives have been shattered by ICE killing and injuring their loved ones.
We cry out in anger at the blatant lies and false accusations used to justify this senseless violence, shield ICE from accountability, and deny justice.
We pray for a return to the values our country once fought for – the inalienable rights of all people to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – and the trust, now lost, in those charged with protecting and representing us.
We call upon our state representatives and local leaders to take steps now to protect
all people in Wisconsin, citizen and immigrant alike, from the unlawful acts committed by ICE:
- THAT the members of the Wisconsin Legislative Delegation use the powers available to them to defund these ICE raids, and to provide a full accounting of ICE activities and processes under oath, along with the publication of a complete listing of those swept up in the raids.
- THAT our state and local leaders adopt legislation that prohibits ICE from operating in or near our public spaces including our hospitals, courthouses, government service centers, places of worship, parks and schools; that prohibits ICE from using public facilities for staging activities; and that requires ICE agents to wear clear identification and no masks when operating in our state.
- THAT the Kenosha County Sheriff rescind the 287(g) agreement signed with ICE immediately
- THAT the Kenosha County Sheriff and the Kenosha Police Dept develop a strategic operational plan for protecting citizens should ICE engage in a large-scale operation in our area. This should include protecting the 1st Amendment rights of those protesting or documenting ICE activity.
- That the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) commits to protecting students, parents, and teachers through all legal means and that KUSD maintains transparency regarding their response to ICE activities impacting students, parents and teacher
- THAT Governor Evers commits to the use of our state National Guard to protect the citizens of Wisconsin in the event of a large-scale ICE operation here.
As people of faith, we affirm our commitment to resist oppression and build Beloved Community where all of God’s people are equally welcomed, valued and affirmed with dignity. We ask our public officials to stand for us, and with us, and to protect all of us.
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Signed,
Rev. William R. Horne
First United Methodist Church, Kenosha
Rev. Dr. Susan Patterson-Sumwalt
First United Methodist Church, Kenosha
Rev. Wesley J. Isberner
Spirit Alive! Lutheran Church, Kenosha
Rabbi Hannah Wallick
Beth Hillel Temple, Kenosha
Rev. Dr. Jordan Miller-Stubbendick
St. Mary’s Lutheran Church, Kenosh
Sister Erica Jordan OP
Sinsinawa Dominicans Sisters
Rev. Kathleen Gloff
Somers United Church of Christ
Follow-Up Actions
- Find your WI State Representatives: https://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/
- Call or write your state senator and representative to insist that they sign on to the Keep Families Together legislation package:
- AB 57 / SB 54 Protect Safe Community Spaces
- AB 441 / SB 444 No Secret Police Act
- AB 475 / SB 446 Due Process for All
- AB 444 / SB 484 No Immigration Detention in WI
- Find your US Congressional Representatives: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
- Call or write your senator and representative to insist that they sign on to any efforts to defund ICE, as well as lead the effort to pass the ICE Oversight and Reform Resolution, to place meaningful limits on ICE operations, along with increased transparency and accountability.
- Call the Kenosha County Sheriff to demand an end to 287(g)
