Introducing the WISDOM Task Force on Immigration
By Sherry Reames
WISDOM’s statewide Task Force on Immigration has been meeting monthly since November 2024 with the general goal of “empower[ing] individuals and communities to fight for immigrant rights, ending discriminatory practices, restoring fair access to identification, and preparing for emergencies.” Since this is a broad and ambitious mission, the task force has defined four focus areas and invites participants to choose the group that interests them most, “meet with point people, and join in researching and reaching out to partners for effective change.” Here are the four subcommittees:
- “Know Your Rights and Family Emergency Preparedness.” This group reviews and shares tools for providing immigrants and their allies with essential information about their rights during interactions with police and ICE agents and also shares resources to help immigrants prepare in advance for potential arrest, deportation, and family separation.
- “Public Safety: Ending 287(g) [which allows state and local law enforcement agencies to partner with ICE for certain law enforcement functions] and limiting sheriffs’ collaboration with ICE.” This group works to mobilize public opinion against both formal agreements and informal collaboration with ICE, because public safety tends to suffer when immigrant communities are afraid to talk to local police.
- “Drivers’ Cards for All.” When denied any access to drivers’ licenses, undocumented people are compelled to go without car insurance, heightening the risk for other drivers. They also risk a police record and potential deportation every time they drive to work or take their kids to school. This WISDOM group works with the Coalition for Safe Roads and other partners to identify undecided legislators and persuade them to support the bill that would restore immigrants’ access to drivers’ cards.
- “Employer Emergency Preparedness.” The goal of this group is to review and share resources to help farmers, businesses, and factory managers prepare for potential immigration raids, reminding them of their rights and helping them find ways to reduce the risk to their workers and their businesses.
If you, your neighbors, or members of your congregations would like to know more about these campaigns, the first step is to sign up online at wisdomwisconsin.org/immigration. That will get you onto the email list. The monthly task force meeting is held on the second Monday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Zoom. For questions or concerns, please contact Amanda Ali, aali@wisdomwisconsin.org.