News & Commentary

This conversation is not just about leggings or tank tops. It is a bigger issue that zeroes in on unequal enforcement of a student dress code in violation of the Constitution and various civil rights statutes designed to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex.  All school administrators should reexamine their dress codes to guard against unfair practices, guidelines or policies, whether in the classroom, on the internet.

In a recent press release on his Facebook page, the Racine County Sheriff has made clear his intention to honor detainer requests issued to his jail by ICE.  The ACLU of Wisconsin recently issued a report reviewing cooperation with ICE by Sheriff Departments across the state.  In response to open record requests from the ACLU, the Racine Sheriff indicated that he had no policy or procedure concerning ICE detainer requests.  

In response to an ACLU request earlier this month, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office today will no longer honor detainer requests from ICE to hold immigrants who would otherwise be released.  A copy of the new policy is available below.

Voter registration FAQ

Campaign materials from Richard Schmidt, a candidate for Milwaukee County Sheriff, used a photograph of a volunteer legal observer with an ACLU branded vest. We wish to clarify that the ACLU is a nonpartisan organization that does not support, oppose or endorse candidates.

It is now official: the Milwaukee police department will undergo sweeping reforms to end its officers’ practice of stopping and frisking people without legal justification and based only on race or ethnicity. For the last decade, tens of thousands of Black and brown Milwaukeeans have been interrupted in their daily lives by police stopping them without reasonable suspicion of criminal activity as required by the Constitution.

Agreement would require Milwaukee to overhaul police department policies, training, supervision, accountability, and community engagement

The ACLU of Wisconsin calls on Governor Walker to withdraw Wisconsin National Guard support of family-separation operations along the U.S.-Mexico border. Several other governors, including Republican governors in Maryland and Massachusetts, have withdrawn their troops in protest against the Trump administration's policy of separating children from their parents at the border.The following statement may be attributed to ACLU of Wisconsin executive director Chris Ott:“The treatment of parents and children that has come to light at our border has deeply troubled people across the country and in Wisconsin. We need to bring this to an end, not support it.This makes it hard to understand Governor Walker's decision to send members of the Wisconsin National Guard to assist in this misguided operation. We ask Governor Walker to rethink this, and not to force our troops to participate in such a cruel and controversial program.We also encourage people to call Governor Walker’s office to demand an end to support for family separations. Please call 608-266-1212 between 8am and 5pm.”