Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers issued a defiant response Friday following remarks from a senior adviser to former President Donald Trump, who suggested Evers could face arrest over a controversial immigration guidance memo distributed to state employees.
“I’m not afraid,” Evers said in a video posted to social media. “I’ve never once been discouraged from doing the right thing, and I will not start today.”
The governor’s comments come in response to threats made by Tom Homan, Trump’s top border policy adviser, who hinted at possible legal consequences for Evers after the release of a state-issued memo advising government workers on how to respond to visits from federal immigration agents.
Immigration Memo Sparks Legal and Political Tensions
The controversy began last month when the Evers administration distributed an internal memo to state employees providing guidance on how to respond if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers appeared at government facilities. The memo instructed employees to:
- Contact legal counsel before speaking to ICE agents.
- Decline to share documents or provide access to computers without a lawyer’s guidance.
- Avoid answering questions from immigration officers until legal representation is present.
The document was framed by the Evers administration as a precautionary measure to protect state workers and ensure legal compliance in the face of increasing federal immigration enforcement activity.
“This is about providing clear, consistent instructions so our public servants know what to do if federal agents show up unexpectedly,” Evers said. “No one is being told to obstruct law enforcement or break the law. In fact, it’s the opposite — this is about protecting due process and ensuring the law is followed.”
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Trump Ally Threatens Consequences
However, Homan took issue with the memo, describing it as “aiding and abetting illegal activity.” During remarks Thursday outside the White House, he warned that any attempt to “impede federal enforcement efforts” could be treated as a felony.
“You can support sanctuary policies if that’s what you want to do,” Homan said. “But if you cross the line into obstruction or knowingly harboring undocumented individuals, that’s a felony. And we’re treating it as such.”
He added ominously, “Wait to see what’s coming,” in reference to potential legal action against the Wisconsin governor or others who issued or followed the guidance.
Republican Reaction Escalates
Some Republican officials quickly echoed Homan’s sentiment, accusing Governor Evers of promoting noncompliance with federal immigration law. Wisconsin State Representative Calvin Callahan even posted a manipulated image on social media showing Evers in handcuffs being escorted by a uniformed Donald Trump — a post that drew both ridicule and alarm across political lines.
“This kind of rhetoric is reckless,” said Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin in a statement. “We’re seeing an open embrace of political intimidation tactics at a time when serious legal and constitutional questions deserve serious debate.”
Evers: “This Is About the Law — Not Politics”
Evers has firmly rejected the idea that the memo undermines federal law. He emphasized that the intent was to ensure employees were not caught in legal gray areas or forced to make snap decisions without counsel.
“They’re lying about what this is,” Evers said in the video response. “This memo doesn’t tell anyone to disobey federal law. It’s a guideline — one rooted in constitutional rights — to make sure that legal processes are respected. I haven’t broken any law. I haven’t committed any crime. And I’ve never told anyone else to.”
Broader Legal Context
The escalation between the state of Wisconsin and the Trump political orbit comes amid increasing legal scrutiny over how state and local governments interact with federal immigration authorities. The tension is especially heightened following the recent arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, who faces felony charges for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant avoid federal detention by leading him and his attorney out of her courtroom.
That incident has sparked a firestorm of debate over judicial independence, state sovereignty, and the boundaries of federal immigration enforcement.
Legal Experts Caution Against Political Overreach
Legal scholars warn that while federal officials have authority to enforce immigration laws, threatening state officials for offering legal guidance to employees may set a dangerous precedent.
“There’s a clear First Amendment and Tenth Amendment issue here,” said Dr. Carla Reyes, a constitutional law professor at the University of Wisconsin. “States have the right to guide their employees, especially in matters where legal advice is prudent. Unless the state is actively obstructing ICE, the threat of arrest raises serious constitutional red flags.”
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National Implications as Immigration Remains Flashpoint
The showdown in Wisconsin could become a national flashpoint as the immigration debate continues to polarize American politics ahead of the 2026 midterms. With former President Trump campaigning for a second term and making immigration central to his platform, clashes between red and blue states over enforcement policies are expected to intensify.
“This is a glimpse of what’s to come,” said political analyst Julia Mercado. “Republican leaders are leveraging immigration to galvanize their base, while Democrats in state governments are pushing back with legal safeguards. Wisconsin is just the first domino.”
Conclusion
As the debate over immigration enforcement plays out across political and legal fronts, Governor Evers’ firm stance signals that he has no plans to yield to pressure from Washington — or Mar-a-Lago.
“This isn’t about politics — it’s about doing what’s right,” Evers said. “No threat, no posturing, and no phony outrage is going to change that.”
