Residents demand withdrawal from ICE agreement

OSHKOSH, WI—(WISS)—Almost three dozen people attended–in person and virtually–and over half as many spoke at the Winnebago County Judiciary and Public Safety Committee meeting at the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office on Monday night. At issue is the so-called 287(g) agreement the sheriff has with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

All speakers stated they wanted the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department to terminate its 287(g) agreement with ICE.

“This program doesn’t make us safer. It erodes trust, diverts resources, and ties Winnebago County to federal practices that undermine constitutional protections,” said Becky Stubbis. “I urge the county board to end 287(g).”

Oshkosh resident T.J. Hobbs also spoke in favor of ending the 287(g) agreement. 

“ ICE and DHS, they have been violating our human rights, disregarding our laws, disregarding our constitution, racially profiling, and murdering members of our community.” Hobbs continued, “ When I signed up to serve this country, I took an oath to defend our constitution against domestic enemies like ICE. This administration will not last forever. And our country’s collaboration with ICE will not age well. Please withdraw from the 287(g) agreement immediately.”

Sheriff’s response

Winnebago County Sheriff John Matz said Winnebago County’s involvement with ICE allows deputies to serve ICE detainers while people are in custody in the jail. 

“Only the individuals who come to our jail on a criminal charge are the ones that we’re reporting to ICE. We don’t conduct a traffic stop and ask what country they’re from or if they are here legally,” Matz said. “We don’t go out and look for individuals at any places of business. That’s not happening. There is no intent for that to happen.”

Matz said in 2025, Winnebago County booked 151 undocumented immigrants to the United States into the Winnebago County Jail. Of those, ICE issued detainers for 17. He went on to say the department turned 10 of those over to ICE. Four were transferred to another agency. Three are still being held in jail on criminal charges and an ICE detainer. 

Matz did not say the individuals had been convicted of a crime, only that they were being held on charges. 

Voces de la Frontera

Recently, at a press conference in Madison, Christine Neuman Ortiz, the head of Voces de la Frontera, said sheriff’s departments, like Winnebago County, that have signed 287(g) agreements face the possibility of litigation.

“There is a pending lawsuit right now that’s been taken up by the State Supreme Court of Wisconsin, which Voces and the ACLU are putting forward,” Neuman Ortiz said. “It says that if you honor these detainers, which are just requests by ICE, it’s not legally binding. They don’t have to hold people that they think could be undocumented. That’s actually unlawful. It’s an unlawful arrest.”

The full report of Winnebago County’s actions in connection with the 287(g) agreement with ICE can be viewed in the minutes of the January 5, 2026, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee meeting. A PDF of the document is also available below.