Milwaukee Bucks County sheriff ousted over controversial USCIS immigration program
Republican Sheriff Fred Harran of Milwaukee Bucks County has been voted out of office following controversy over his decision to join the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) 287(g) program. Harran, who lost by around 25,000 votes, had signed up for the program in April, delegating federal immigration responsibilities to local law enforcement.
Harran chose the Task Force Model, which grants the most authority to local deputies. Seventeen law enforcement officers in Milwaukee Bucks County received USCIS training as part of the agreement, enabling them to enforce limited immigration authority during routine police duties. However, Harran's decision was met with criticism. His Democratic opponent, Danny Ceisler, campaigned against the USCIS partnership, calling it 'a political stunt that wastes resources, erodes trust, and puts our communities at greater risk'. Ceisler plans to impose a moratorium on the agreement on his first day in office and seek to formally withdraw from it within his first six weeks.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit against Harran in June, accusing him of entering into the 287(g) agreement 'unlawfully'. However, a Court of Common Pleas judge dismissed the lawsuit, stating the agreement was 'clearly lawful'.
Harran's partnership with USCIS has been a contentious issue throughout his election campaign. Despite a court ruling in favor of the agreement, the incoming sheriff, Danny Ceisler, remains committed to ending the partnership, reflecting the will of the voters who ousted Harran.
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