We are living in challenging and chaotic times. As we bear witness to the unprecedented assault on our immigrant neighbors and friends in the streets of the Twin Cities, Chicago, and elsewhere, we recognize the need to be prepared in the event such action comes to Wisconsin. We, the undersigned leaders of faith communities in Wisconsin, call upon all elected officials, all people of faith and goodwill, and all who care about the future of our democracy to engage in concrete acts of advocacy, solidarity, and compassion. The constitutional rights and freedoms we hold dear are under assault, and the time for action is now.
We are seeing countless individuals arrested and detained, including citizens, Indigenous people, and those with legal resident status, simply because an agent believes they look like an immigrant. The vast majority of those detained have no criminal convictions. We recognize the responsibility of law enforcement officers to serve and protect includes a range of actions, including investigating and apprehending those who commit violent crimes. Counter to the stated position of the federal administration, we do not believe that what we are witnessing is a focus on dangerous criminals, nor does it foster community safety. We call upon our elected leaders to coordinate with law enforcement officials to make sure that federal agents, including those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), respect the constitutional rights of all residents of Wisconsin.
All of the major faith traditions recognize the inherent dignity of all people and call upon their communities to love and serve our neighbors. We are seeing that immigrants and other people of color are afraid to leave their homes to work, shop, or even attend school, for fear that they will be swept up indiscriminately, even though they may be citizens or have legal resident status. We urge all residents of Wisconsin to engage in the following actions of love and solidarity:
1. Show up. Pay attention to what is going on in your community, and when immigration enforcement activities increase, we encourage non-violent acts of witness and solidarity. Use your cameras to take pictures or record videos so that there is a record of what goes on.
2. Get connected. Take time now to get to know your neighbors and identify the community resources wherever you live that may be called upon to provide support. Communities all across the state will need to come together to provide food, transportation, and other resources for those most vulnerable.
3. Speak out. We recognize that we may not all agree on the best way to resolve the challenges confronting us, but we must all work together and get vocal to preserve the constitutional protections that undergird our democracy.
Together, we can create a Wisconsin that we are proud of, in which all our neighbors can work, study, play, and love, living in peace and unafraid.
Signed,
The Rev. Dr. Kerri L Parker, Executive Director, WI Council of Churches
The Rev. Paul D. Erickson, Bishop, Greater Milwaukee Synod ELCA
The Rev. Jane B. Anderson, Wisconsin Conference UCC
The Rev. Rachel Bauman, United Church of Christ
Rev. Fr. Yeprem Kelegian, Armenian Orthodox Church
The Rev. Mimi Maki, Emmaus Ecumenical Catholic Community of Oshkosh
The Rev. Marian E Boyle Rohloff, West Side Moravian Church
The Rev. Dan Schwerin, Bishop, Northern Illinois-Wisconsin Episcopal Area UMC
The Rev. Eric Swanson, Northern Illinois-Wisconsin Episcopal Area UMC
The Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell, American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin
Matt Davisdon, Seventy in Community of Christ
Adam Clausen, Senior Leader, Life Center Madison
Sister Lynne W. Smith, Prioress, Holy Wisdom Monastery
Rev. Dr. Ann Gibbs, Presbyterian Church (USA)
— Signers at release of statement, January 21, 2026. — This piece was made available by the Wisconsin Council of Churches. Find more at www.wichurches.org.
