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Marshfield police chief explains limits on local immigration enforcement and cooperation with ICE
Summary
Police Chief Jody Grink told the Common Council that local officers do not enforce federal immigration law and described procedures for notifying ICE and detainers when individuals are in custody.
At the June 24 Marshfield Common Council meeting, Police Chief Jody Grink briefed the council on how the Marshfield Police Department handles encounters involving persons who may be subject to federal immigration enforcement.
"Local police officers and sheriff's deputies do not have authority to enforce federal immigration laws," Grink said, adding that the department cooperates with federal agencies when requested or required by law. He described the usual practice: officers may detain people when they have probable cause for other violations; if a person is transported to jail, the jail will notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which decides whether to place a detainer. "If they decide to put a detainer ... they've gotta pick them up within 48 hours," Grink said.
Grink said encounters with undocumented people typically arise when officers are conducting other investigations and then discover immigration issues. He said ICE also helps the department identify individuals when necessary, which Grink said is important to avoid releasing a known violent offender. The chief said the department may take someone into custody on other criminal charges even if ICE does not request custody based solely on immigration status.
The briefing followed an Alderman O'Reilly request for information after recent media coverage, and Grink said the department is operating "just like we always have" with the described cooperation model.
