MILWAUKEE – Community advocates and legal experts in Milwaukee are urging people to understand their rights as protesters and observers following the killing of Alex Pretti during an ICE operation in Minneapolis.

What we know:

Bystander video shows Pretti filming immigration agents on the street before he was killed. The incident, along with the killing of Renée Good, has heightened tensions nationwide and prompted renewed outreach efforts in Milwaukee, even as officials say they are not seeing a surge of ICE activity locally similar to what occurred in Minneapolis.

ICE maintains an office in a Milwaukee School of Engineering-owned building downtown, but community members say fear and uncertainty remain high.

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Julie Velazquez, outreach chair for the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, said volunteers have been canvassing neighborhoods on the city’s south side to educate residents about their rights if approached by immigration enforcement.

Local perspective:

“We’ll be going around the barrio – the neighborhood. Talking to folks about their rights,” said Velazquez. “About how to identify ICE or immigration enforcement officials and what they can do to keep themselves and their neighbors safe.”

Velazquez said the goal is to help people identify immigration agents and understand how to protect themselves and their neighbors.

She added that accountability depends on awareness.

“Long term it’s important those people are held accountable, and the only way we can do that is if we know our rights and when they are being violated,” Velazquez said.

Attorney Julius Kim of Kim & LaVoy said the First Amendment generally protects the right to film law enforcement and federal agents in public spaces.

“Generally speaking, people are allowed under the first amendment to film or video what they’re seeing,” said Kim.

Kim said emotions are running high following the Minneapolis shooting and urged caution.

“Living in really strange and volatile times and people’s emotions are getting the better of them at this point in time,” Kim said.

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He emphasized that safety should come first.

“Safety is number one priority,” he said. “Again, you may have the right to film or record ICE officers just do it in a way that is not going to interfere with them, try to comply as best you can.”

What you can do:

Kim provided the following tips for those who protest:

• People do have a First Amendment right to record law enforcement officers in the performance of their duties in public areas.
• If you record law enforcement, do so from a safe distance.
• You do not have the right to interfere with law enforcement activities.
• If you are detained or arrested by law enforcement, keep your cool. Don’t escalate the situation and risk getting hurt.
• Use common sense. If things are getting overly heated, pause or remove yourself from the situation.

Leaders also compiled a list of protest-related resources, including guidance from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

MILWAUKEE – County Executive David Crowley hosted a roundtable discussion on Monday, Jan. 26, to highlight Milwaukee County’s Credible Messenger Program, which aims to improve public safety and support local youth involved in the justice system through expanding mentorship, resources, and job opportunities.

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County Executive Crowley was joined by Credible Messenger partners, local leaders, and representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to discuss how to continue addressing public safety challenges through community violence intervention initiatives, youth engagement efforts, and greater partnership with state and federal leaders.

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman is facing criticism after it was revealed he recently attended a counterterrorism training program in Israel, prompting public backlash during a Fire and Police Commission meeting.

What we know:

The Milwaukee Police Department said Norman was out of the office from Dec. 1 through Dec. 7 while participating in a homeland security program in Israel. The trip drew sharp criticism during Thursday’s Fire and Police Commission meeting, where speakers questioned the timing and implications of the training.

For more than two hours, residents spoke before the commission, calling out Norman for attending the program amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

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“For this police chief in this political climate when there’s a genocide happening right now, to go learn tactics to further oppress our communities, is shameful,” said Angela Lang, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities.

One Fire and Police Commission member also apologized publicly to residents.

“I called this trip unconscionable and I believe that with my chest,” said Krissie Fung. “I think that for many Milwaukeeans this is not something they will ever forgive.”

What they’re saying:

Norman sat quietly in the front row during the meeting. He later released a statement defending the trip:

“At last night’s Fire and Police Commission meeting, members of the community and various organizations shared their concerns regarding my recent training trip to Israel. I want to sincerely thank everyone who took the time to express their thoughts and experiences.

Community feedback is invaluable, and I do not take it lightly. I am honored to serve a diverse community—one that includes a wide range of perspectives.

In 2025, I was invited to participate in the Homeland Security Program in Israel, sponsored by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) and the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA). This program, established after 9/11, facilitates the exchange of best practices between U.S. law enforcement and leading counterterrorism experts. Given today’s global security challenges, I viewed this as an important opportunity to learn strategies for preventing and responding to terrorism—knowledge that ultimately enhances the safety of the entire community I serve.

As a leader, I believe in lifelong learning. Every experience, including the feedback I received last night, is part of that journey. I want to assure you that your comments were heard and taken seriously.”

Dig deeper:

The training program was led by retired FBI Assistant Director Steven Pomerantz, who said the program began in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks and is not political in nature.

“There was no political tones to it, no connection to the military,” Pomerantz said. “It’s all about law enforcement.” 

Pomerantz said Israeli national police have extensive experience dealing with terrorism and have shared lessons learned with U.S. law enforcement for years.

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“The Israel national police had more experience than any other police agency in the world dealing with terrorism and a lot of lessons they had learned over the years that they were willing to share with American law enforcement,” he said.

The program is limited to local law enforcement leaders, including sheriffs, police chiefs and commissioners. Pomerantz said participants learn how agencies in Israel share and analyze information to prevent terrorist attacks.

“What he learned in Israel and what he’s implemented since he’s been back, makes the people of Milwaukee safer,” Pomerantz said.

Another question raised during the meeting was who paid for the trip. MPD said the training is run by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America.