ICE Arrests 1,700 In Wisconsin Since 2023 As Nicaraguan Arrivals Cluster; Counties Expand Jail-To-Deportation Pipeline

Data-driven review of court and ICE records shows Wisconsin accounts for ~41,000 immigration court cases over the past decade while ICE has made ~1,700 arrests since Sept. 2023 amid a national enforcement surge. New arrivals are concentrated in Milwaukee and farm towns, with a disproportionate share from Nicaragua. County cooperation with ICE (detainers, 287(g)-style agreements, jail contracts) is expanding as the ACLU challenges detainer practices. The trends heighten enforcement exposure for recent arrivals and reshape local legal aid needs and policy debates.