Evers Comments On Recently Issued Guidance To State Employees
In a political climate already fraught with tension, new guidance from the Democratic administration of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has ignited a fresh firestorm. The administration’s memo, aimed at preparing state employees for the possibility of immigration agents appearing at their workplaces, is now a lightning rod in the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement, federal authority, and state responsibility.
The five-point memo, circulated Friday by Deputy Secretary Anne Hanson of the Department of Administration, directed state employees to stay calm, request identification from agents, contact their supervisor, and most crucially—call an attorney before providing access to private areas or sensitive information. The memo emphasized that no confidential data could be released absent a valid judicial warrant, a stance firmly grounded in protecting state records and employee rights.
But Republicans quickly seized on the memo, accusing Governor Evers of ordering defiance against federal immigration authorities. U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany blasted the move as “ordering state employees to block ICE from doing their job,” while Wisconsin GOP Chair Brian Schimming decried it as an attempt to “impede justice.” Both framed the guidance as an affront to law and order and a threat to public safety.
Governor Evers, however, struck a firm and deliberate tone in response. Speaking on WISN 12’s “UPFRONT,” Evers denied any intent to obstruct federal law enforcement. “We’re not encouraging them to break the law,” he stated emphatically. Instead, the guidance seeks to ensure that any interactions between state employees and ICE agents are conducted with due legal oversight—a move Evers framed as a simple matter of fairness and caution in a volatile environment.
Oh really. https://t.co/jcDJdpBebd
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@HarmeetKDhillon) April 26, 2025
The memo, mirroring practices endorsed by the National Immigration Law Center and other advocacy groups, is not unprecedented. Connecticut’s Democratic governor issued similar guidance earlier this year. Yet, the political tinderbox in Wisconsin, already crackling with disputes over immigration policies, tax cuts, and the upcoming state budget, made Evers’ memo a flashpoint.
As the controversy unfolds, a broader battle plays out in the Wisconsin Legislature. Republicans recently passed a bill mandating that sheriffs cooperate with federal immigration authorities—a bill Evers has signaled he would likely veto. Meanwhile, Democrats have offered a competing proposal to block cooperation with federal deportation efforts absent a judicial warrant, though it stands little chance in the GOP-controlled Legislature.
The memo’s exposure came courtesy of conservative talk radio host Dan O’Donnell, instantly catapulting what might have been internal administrative advice into a statewide political spectacle.
In a state where the balance of political power is perennially razor-thin, the clash over immigration enforcement and workplace rights is likely to reverberate through the halls of power—and perhaps, the ballot box—as Evers mulls a decision on whether to seek reelection after the budget is finalized.