Winnebago supervisors remove ICE denouncement from agenda after heated public comments

The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors voted to remove a proposed resolution denouncing recent ICE operations from the meeting agenda after a motion to amend the agenda passed by majority voice vote.

The motion to remove the resolution was introduced verbally by a member of the board and seconded; the chair put the motion to a voice vote and declared it passed. The item had been listed in the packet as “resolution 0 2 4 1 - 0 2 2 0 2 6,” which speakers referenced during public comment.

Public comment that followed showed a sharp divide among speakers. Sarah McInish of Oshkosh urged local controls on federal immigration enforcement and asked for requirements that agents present judicial warrants and visible identification: “All I’m asking for is them to just follow the rules. Judicial warrants, please take off the masks…they have to wear badges,” she said. Supervisor Crystal Lokes (District 2) told constituents she would try to prevent ICE operations from coming to the county and expressed disappointment the board did not take a formal stand.

Other speakers criticized the idea of a county denouncement on a federal operation. Bill Demler of Plumbers Point Road said the county lacked the authority to denounce ICE’s actions outside the state and supported removing the resolution. John Marco, a former corrections officer, urged the board to hold law enforcement to standards while also recognizing officers’ service. Matt Smith, a former military police officer, said tragic incidents did not justify opposing enforcement of federal immigration law and praised the decision to remove the resolution.

On Zoom, Cameron Clark of Neenah thanked supervisors who opposed adding the resolution and urged the board to focus on county-level responsibilities: “You were elected to do a job, and that job is to officiate what happens here within the county,” he said.

No formal policy change was adopted on ICE operations at the meeting; the agenda amendment removed the resolution from consideration. Several supervisors noted the limits of county authority to influence federal enforcement and emphasized that federal policy and accountability are matters for state or federal representatives.

What’s next: Because the resolution was removed from the agenda by majority motion, there was no further board action on the substance of the proposed denouncement. Advocates and critics who spoke during public comment may pursue other avenues, including direct engagement with state legislators or the sheriff’s office.