MILWAUKEE — For years, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, agents have worked out of an office in Downtown Milwaukee. 

That will change in the near future as the Department of Homeland Security plans to move its office on Knapp and Broadway to Lake Park Drive, just off Interstate 41 on Milwaukee’s northwest side. 

Documents obtained by TMJ4 state that the government office would be used to process non-detained report-ins and detainees for transport to holding facilities.

Wednesday afternoon, city and county leaders, along with community members, gathered outside the new ICE office.

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Fernanda Jimenez, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, is dedicated to advocating for immigration reform alongside her organization, Comite Sin Fronteras. 

“What we’ve been working mostly on is making sure that we protect our immigrant community but also fight for a pathway to citizenship,” she said.

Currently, a significant concern for Jimenez and her group is the planned relocation to a new processing facility on Milwaukee’s northwest side.

This issue dominated their discussions on Wednesday, as Jimenez understands the implications of such a move.

Brought to the U.S. as a child, Jimenez is undocumented but protected from deportation by federal policy (DACA). Despite her protections, she remains anxious for friends and family who do not share the same status.

Watch: Advocates sound alarm over ICE office relocation in Milwaukee

Advocates sound alarm over ICE office relocation in Milwaukee

“Even though it’s not considered a detention center, it’s just a place where they’re going to process people. It gives them the ability, they’re closer to the highway, and they’re able to take them to a detention center. That gives them more expansion to be able to process anybody,” she explained.

The proposed facility has ignited fear for some within Milwaukee’s Latino community, according to fellow DACA recipient Mario Rubio and Cesar Hernandez, who lives on Milwaukee’s south side.

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“Some people, with this happening, are afraid to work. So you’re losing out on income. You’re losing out on groceries. You know, you’re slowly putting yourself in this corner where it just becomes more lonely,” Rubio said.

Mike Beiermeister

In response, an ICE spokesperson told TMJ4 that no ICE detention facilities are planned for the location in question.

“I call BS,” said Cesar Hernandez, a Milwaukee resident. “I think that it’s a line they’re feeding to the media as well to try to keep some of the outrage or some of the outcry and response and organizing to a minimum, but I think we know better.”

Mike Beiermeister

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He shared his concerns over the facility in question.

“I was disgusted. It didn’t surprise me that DHS didn’t so much as reach out to the local elected officials as an act of good faith, or at least work in collaboration with the local elected officials that they would have to be working with if they plan to implement those facilities,” he said.

As discussions continue, it remains unclear when the Department of Homeland Security plans to move into the new building.

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MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee man accused of driving the wrong way toward Vice President Kamala Harris’ motorcade in October pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. 

Wrong-way driver

The backstory:

It happened on Oct. 21. Harris had just wrapped up a rally in Brookfield when the wrong-way vehicle passed her motorcade on I-94 near the Marquette Interchange. Prosecutors said 55-year-old Wayne Wacker was behind the wheel.

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Court filings said Wacker appeared to be driving at “close to highway speeds.” He was stopped near 13th Street, and deputies said he “had a very strong odor of intoxicates emitting from his person, bloodshot and glassy eyes, and extremely slurred speech.”

Wacker told deputies he was on his way home from a Walker’s Point bar and was “unaware” he was driving the wrong way on the interstate, the complaint states. He was taken to the nearby Milwaukee Intermodal Station for field sobriety tests, and the complaint states a preliminary breath test had a BAC reading of .252.

While waiting for a blood draw as part of the OWI investigation, prosecutors said Wacker told deputies he “had no recollection” of entering the freeway or almost striking another vehicle. He also said he had no idea Harris was in Milwaukee and had no intention of harming her or any member of her campaign. 

In court

What’s next:

Wacker is charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety. Court records show his next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 18.

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Bucks will host a “Bucks In Ink” flash event on Thursday, Jan. 16, from 12-2 p.m. in the atrium of Fiserv Forum. 

Bucks In Ink

What we know:

Local tattoo artists will be on site to give permanent tattoos to registered fans using artwork inspired by Bucks basketball, the city of Milwaukee and the 2025 NBA All-Star Game host city of San Francisco. 

According to a news release, the tattoos will be done by artists from Good Land Tattoo, Black Dawn Tattoo and Xolo Tattoo Studio. 

The free event builds on the Bucks’ 2025 All-Star campaign, which bridges the Bay Area to the shores of Lake Michigan through the American traditional tattoo style that originated in Milwaukee. 

Limited spots are available for the event. Interested participants must register in advance by filling out THIS FORM. 

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What you can do:

Fans can also show support for the Bucks’ 2025 All-Star candidates by visiting the “Bucks In Ink” temporary tattoo parlor at home games through Jan. 19.

The parlor is open in Section 218 from the time doors open through halftime of each Bucks home game, including tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic. 

Voting for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game is open now through Jan. 20. Fans can vote once per day and take advantage of the remaining triple-vote days, where each vote counts as three, on Friday, Jan. 17, and Monday, Jan. 20. 

To vote or learn more about the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, visit www.bucks.com/allstar.