Voters in Sauk and Winnebago counties will decide the future of local immigration enforcement partnerships this November, as Democratic and Republican candidates present sharply contrasting approaches to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Wisconsin Watch reported. Both Democratic nominees have pledged to terminate their respective counties’ 287(g) agreements upon taking office, while their Republican opponents support maintaining the federal partnerships.
The upcoming November 3 elections highlight how national immigration policies intersect with local sheriff races. In Sauk County, where Donald Trump won by less than 5 percentage points in 2024, ICE has recorded roughly 100 arrests since January 2025, primarily through custody transfers at the county jail, according to Wisconsin Watch.
Sauk and Winnebago County Sheriff Candidates Debate ICE Cooperation
Immigration enforcement emerged as a central issue during a June candidate forum in Baraboo. Baraboo Optimist Club President Joseph Viney asked the six primary candidates how they would separate ICE demands from their duty to protect Sauk County residents, according to reporting by Wisconsin Watch and Bolts. Following the primary elections, Democratic nominee Ryan Jesberger and his Republican opponent advanced to the general election ballot.
Jesberger told Wisconsin Watch and Bolts that local voters are frustrated with national immigration policies and their local impacts. The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office currently operates under a 287(g) agreement signed by Sheriff Richard “Chip” Meister in November 2025. That voluntary partnership allows six designated jail supervisors to execute federal immigration warrants on individuals already in county custody, streamlining transfers to ICE.
While both Democratic candidates across Sauk and Winnebago counties promise to exit the 287(g) program immediately, Sauk County's policy includes another layer. Both candidates in the Sauk County race support keeping a separate contract that allows ICE to rent space inside the local jail to detain immigrants, despite disagreeing on the financial and humanitarian aspects.
ACLU opposes local law enforcement cooperation with ICE
The Trump administration has increasingly relied on local law enforcement agencies nationwide to assist with immigration enforcement through 287(g) contracts. These voluntary agreements have triggered pushback from immigrant rights organizations and altered local electoral dynamics, according to Wisconsin Watch and Bolts.
Hannah Schwarz, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Wisconsin, described sheriffs as the most critical state-level races for immigration policy. The civil liberties organization actively opposes local law enforcement cooperation with ICE. In Winnebago County, located 90 miles from Sauk County, voters face a similar choice between a Republican candidate favoring continued cooperation and a Democrat pledging to end the 287(g) agreement, alongside separate community concerns regarding law enforcement’s use of Flock license plate cameras.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Sheriff Races
What is a 287(g) agreement in Wisconsin jails?
A 287(g) agreement is a voluntary partnership between a local law enforcement agency and federal immigration authorities. In Sauk County, the agreement allows six designated jail supervisors to execute federal immigration warrants on people already in county custody.
How many county agencies cooperate with ICE in Wisconsin?
The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office is one of 20 county law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin that maintain formal cooperation agreements with ICE.
When is the general election for these sheriff seats?
Voters in Sauk and Winnebago counties will cast their ballots in the general election on November 3, 2026.
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