Dozens gathered outside the Wisconsin Capitol eastern entrance on Wednesday evening to protest the arrival of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chicago on Sept. 8.
The “Hands Off” protest was organized by Badger Collective, a non-partisan mobilization organization that partners with other social and political groups to raise awareness and inspire change. Hands Off Chicago, Indivisible Groups, Voces de la Frontera and other grassroots organizations joined forces for this gathering.
While demonstrators gathered in Madison, a simultaneous protest unfolded in both Chicago and Milwaukee, where crowds expressed frustration with deporting undocumented immigrants. Over 1,000 Chicago immigrants have been arrested in the past month, according to an AP news report.
Badger Collective media contact, Crow, who goes by that name only, said they’ve seen situations where people are targeted for their skin color, regardless of ethnicity or immigration status.
“It’s not about immigrants, it’s about racism,” Crow said.
Voces de la Frontera member Karen Urrutia Polnitz spoke to the crowd, detailing the rights of all people and proper protocol in the event of a federal agent’s unlawful abduction of an immigrant regardless of their status.
“I’m connected with the Latinx community in many ways, and also very grateful for the diversity that immigrants across the board and from many countries bring to our communities,” Polnitz said. “I’m wanting to celebrate and continue that practice, so that continues to be what our country is like for generations to come.”
Polnitz said Voces de la Frontera is an organization committed to educating immigrants about their rights and training those with a secure immigration status to be protectors.
Being a protector in the community is a two-part process: being able to identify the possibility of an ICE sighting, and being able to respond in the event that it’s necessary and helpful, Polnitz said.
Voces de la Frontera made a contingency plan for the anticipated arrival of the national guard in Chicago by visibly standing with immigrants across state lines in Wisconsin, Polnitz said.
Following Polnitz’s speech, Wisconsin 2026 gubernatorial candidate Brett Husley spoke on his campaign promises.
Husley said he is running on a platform of worker’s rights, improving childhood education, reinvesting in healthcare and creating a more energy efficient state.
“I feel very strongly that President Trump should not be invading our cities. We don’t want him in Madison, he shouldn’t be sending troops to Chicago.” Husley said.
These are untrained troops, according to Husley. This is a potentially strategic move by President Trump to gain control, Husley said.
Organizers, speakers and protestors alike echoed a message of resistance against mass deportation. Over 100 people attended this protest, almost all of them with signs, flags or other means of expression.
“We’re getting a lot of people activated in this work and a lot of people connected with it. It’s an exciting and hopeful time, despite the challenges that we’re facing right now,” Polnitz said.
