Wisconsin governor says he is not afraid after Trump officials suggest possible arrest
Madison, Wisconsin (AP) — Every American should pay attention to President Donald Trump’s top border adviser’s “fearing” advice that he can face based on guidance sent to state employees by federal immigration agents about what to do.
“I’m not afraid,” Evers said in an extraordinary video posted on YouTube. “I never dissuaded myself to do the right thing, and I won’t start today.”
In controversy, the guidance published last month by the Evers administration was a response to state workers, who asked what they should do if U.S. immigration and customs law enforcement officers showed up in their offices.
Evers’ guidance advises them to contact the attorney immediately and ask the officer to return whether the attorney is unavailable. The memorandum also advises state workers not to hand over paper personnel to paper documents without first consulting attorneys from state agencies or to give ICE officials access to computers, nor to answer agent questions.
The recommendations are similar to the guidance issued by the Democratic governor of Connecticut in January. The guidelines also reflect what the National Center for Immigration Law and other advocacy groups should do when immigration officials appear in the workplace.
Republican critics believe the guidance is an order from Evers to not work with the Ice Media, an allegation the governor strongly denied in Friday’s video. Evers said the purpose of the guide is to “clear, consistent instructions” to state employees to ensure they have lawyers present to help them comply with all applicable laws.
He accused Republicans of lying and spreading misinformation to facilitate “false controversy over their own creations.”
“I didn’t break the law,” Evers said. “I have committed no crime and I have never encouraged or directed anyone to violate any law or crime.”
Trump’s top border adviser Tom Homan was asked about the Evers memo by reporters outside the White House on Thursday. When asked about the memo, Homan said: “Waiting for what is about to happen.”
“You can’t support what we are doing, you can support sanctuary cities if you want to, but if you cross this line with obstacles or intentionally hiding and hiding illegal aliens, that’s a felony, and we’re treating them like that.”
Some Republicans have accepted the possibility of arrest. Rep. Calvin Callahan, a Republican Wisconsin, posted a fake image on social media, showing Trump behind police uniforms in handcuffs outside the state capitol.
Homan and Evers’ responses were posted for a week after Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested on two felony charges. She was accused of escorting him and his attorney out of court through a jury last week to help a man escape immigration authorities after learning federal officials were seeking arrest.
