David Crowley’s record shows clear resistance to cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, support for policies that shield people in the country unlawfully, and proposals that would use public funds to aid those individuals.
David Crowley, who won the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, has repeatedly aligned with the party’s more progressive flank on immigration. He has publicly opposed partnerships with federal immigration authorities and backed measures that would limit local cooperation with ICE, arguing local law enforcement should prioritize community trust. These stances track with previous Milwaukee County policies that declined to honor ICE detainers and resisted federal collaboration.
Earlier this year Crowley told a local ABC affiliate he doesn’t see “any scenario where we would want to partner with ICE,” and he warned local officers should not “become federal agents.” That is consistent with his past actions: he supported legislation and county policies that block local assistance to ICE and promoted bills to codify those limits statewide. Crowley also campaigned for anti-ICE proposals and used county resources to lobby for legal protections that would curtail federal-local cooperation.
He has framed his opposition to ICE cooperation as a response to federal overreach, saying, “I think anyone who has stood up to President Trump, and particularly the way that he is, deployed his ICE officials to go into different communities, is going to put a target on your back.” Crowley and other allies introduced 2019 Assembly Bill 484 to prohibit agreements that let local law enforcement act on behalf of federal immigration enforcement. He made clear he would resist any state measure he believed could reduce shared revenue for counties.
On practical policy, Crowley has supported banning ICE presence in county courthouses and has posted guidelines advising residents on how to handle ICE encounters, encouraging people to require warrants and record details. He backed a courthouse ban in April 2025 and issued statements defending the courthouse as a protected community space, saying that enforcement actions there “undermine public trust, breed fear among citizens and staff, and disrupt the due process essential to our courts.” Those moves reflect a philosophy that prioritizes access to local services over federal immigration enforcement.
Crowley has also advocated using public resources to assist people in the country illegally, proposing taxpayer-funded legal services and a community resource hub to connect noncitizens with legal help. He co-authored legislation to allow in-state tuition for undocumented students through 2019 Assembly Bill 413 and has signaled support for providing driver’s licenses to people here unlawfully. Critics argue those plans would shift state dollars to protect noncitizens from deportation.
During debates over GOP proposals requiring county cooperation with ICE, Crowley opposed bills that would have compelled local law enforcement to help identify undocumented residents and would cut state funding from noncooperative agencies. He said he opposed any measure that “could result in decreased shared revenue.” A group of county officials said such legislation would misdirect sheriff resources away from local priorities, a point Crowley echoed when he called for keeping law enforcement focused on community safety.
If elected governor, Crowley said he would direct state agencies not to cooperate with ICE, a pledge that would effectively expand sanctuary-style protections statewide. He has stood beside fellow progressives who share these views and has repeatedly pledged solidarity with immigrant communities, saying he will be their ally. Those commitments have led opponents to warn that Crowley would turn Wisconsin into a safe haven for people here unlawfully and to point to potential risks to public safety and taxpayer costs.
Public statements capture his stance plainly. Crowley declared, “I’m an accomplice. I’m going to be with you no matter what.” That line speaks to the political choice he is making: prioritizing protection for immigrant communities over federal immigration enforcement partnerships. For many voters, that choice will define how they view his approach to law enforcement, public resources, and the rule of law.
Debate over these policies has been sharp, and critics say the stakes include public safety, fiscal responsibility, and the integrity of local-government duties. Crowley’s record of opposing cooperation with ICE, pushing for taxpayer-funded legal support for noncitizens, and backing in-state tuition for undocumented students frames the contrast Republicans plan to draw in the race. The issue ties directly into broader arguments about border security, state authority, and how limited public funds should be used.
He was seated next to socialist Francesca Hong, who agreed with him.
David Crowley proposes a total ban on local law enforcement entering into contracts with ICE in Wisconsin, arguing that ICE collaboration destroys trust
by u/thefrontpageofreddit in wisconsin
“I don’t think any local law enforcement should be able to enter into a contract agreement to become an extension of this federal immigration agenda,” Crowley said. “You can’t protect communities when you enter into these agreements because you destroy trust with citizens and undocumented immigrants … we have to make sure we’re protecting our immigrant communities … I’m an accomplice. I’m going to be with you no matter what.”
https://x.com/TiffanyWarRoom/status/2087578864897675634
