Following up on our 2022 investigation, the 2025 edition of The Jail-to-Deportation Pipeline in Wisconsin shows that the relationship between local law enforcement and ICE is growing, as more county sheriffs have agreed to participate in federal immigration enforcement since the start of the Trump administration.
Key takeaways:
- As of July 2025, thirteen Wisconsin law enforcement agencies have formalized partnerships with ICE through active 287(g) agreements.
- From Federal Fiscal Year 2021-24, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and 29 counties received over $7 million in federal funds through the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) in exchange for data sharing with ICE.
- From October 2021 through June 2025, ICE sent more than 3,300 immigration detainers.
- Recent open records requests also found that at least three Wisconsin counties get paid to detain and transport individuals for ICE. UPDATE: As of September 2025, the four counties that we know are actively jailing ICE detainees include Brown, Dodge, Douglas, and Sauk.
View the report to learn more about sheriff-ICE collaboration, as well as action steps you can take.
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Palmyra is set to become the first Police Department in Wisconsin with a 287(g) agreement and the state's lone law enforcement agency to participate in the Task Force Model program.
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Issue Areas:
Immigrants' Rights
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