Milwaukee Common Council passes first ‘ICE Out MKE’ measures as new federal facility nears completion

Two resolutions advance a broader “ICE Out MKE” package

The Milwaukee Common Council has approved the first two measures in an “ICE Out MKE” legislative package, adopting resolutions that formally oppose mass deportation and call for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The votes occurred Tuesday, March 3, 2026, and were followed Thursday, March 5, by a joint statement from eight council members describing the action as an initial step as federal immigration operations expand their footprint in the city.

The measures adopted this week are resolutions, not ordinances. As a result, they primarily express policy positions and direct advocacy rather than establishing new enforceable city penalties. Additional proposals under the “ICE Out MKE” banner remain under development or separate committee consideration.

What the Council approved on March 3

One resolution states the city’s opposition to the current manner of federal immigration enforcement nationally, urges de-escalation and respect for constitutional rights, and calls on ICE to avoid conducting civil immigration enforcement activities in Milwaukee. It also states the city’s opposition to mass deportation, calls for a clear path to citizenship, and calls for ICE’s abolition.

A second resolution calls on Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) officers to protect community members’ constitutional rights during speech and assembly, and to intervene if any law-enforcement personnel attempt to abridge those rights. The text cites concerns about reports elsewhere in the country involving alleged assaults on members of the public without probable cause and frames the measure as a statement of expectations for local policing in such circumstances.

• Resolution 1: City opposition to mass deportation; call for abolition of ICE; request that civil immigration enforcement be avoided in Milwaukee.
• Resolution 2: Call for MPD to protect constitutional rights during speech and assembly and intervene when rights are threatened.

Facility development on the Northwest Side remains a key backdrop

The Council’s March 5 statement references an ICE facility at 11925 W. Lake Park Dr. On Jan. 15–16, 2026, local reporting based on public records described federal occupancy and remodeling activity at the site, including an occupancy approval dated Nov. 3, 2025, and permits tied to interior office work, parking-lot changes, and perimeter fencing. The same reporting indicated there was no public timeline for when operations would move into the building.

ICE has also been operating out of space on the Milwaukee School of Engineering campus while federal agencies determine next steps for relocation, with the expectation that the space would be repurposed once vacated.

What comes next for “ICE Out MKE”

Council members have described a larger set of ideas still in progress, including proposals related to city property use, police standard operating procedures, and the possible creation of a city office focused on immigrant and newcomer services. As those items move forward, legal constraints on municipal authority over federal operations—and the distinction between symbolic resolutions and enforceable ordinances—are expected to be central to upcoming debate.

The Council’s March 5 statement framed the votes as preparation for potential future federal activity in Milwaukee and as a public signal of support to residents who feel threatened by possible enforcement actions.