Immigration enforcement under Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan has extended into rural western Wisconsin, unsettling small towns that previously felt insulated from such actions. In Baldwin, a town of about 4,000 residents, local estimates suggest over 50 people were detained by federal agents, with operations peaking in January and February. The crackdown has left families in fear, with many immigrants staying indoors to avoid arrest.
J, a Venezuelan who arrived in 2023, described the situation: “The United States is the American dream, that’s what they call it. But no, it wasn’t like that.” His wife was taken by agents, leaving him to care for their 18-month-old child while working to reunite the family. He requested anonymity due to fears of further enforcement.
The operations targeted not only blue cities but also conservative-leaning areas. In St Croix County, agents swept through mobile homes, apartment buildings, ethnic restaurants, and grocery stores. Residents report that arrests began around Thanksgiving and escalated in December, spreading from the Twin Cities into Wisconsin as agents faced protests in Minneapolis.
Mutual aid networks have stepped in to deliver groceries and supplies to affected families and provide rides for those afraid of being stopped. Jenelle Ludwig Krause, organising with the group Safe Neighbors, said: “This is a super important fight. I care very deeply about what happens in Baldwin and what kind of community I’m part of.” She warned that similar actions could soon affect thousands of other towns.
The Department of Homeland Security did not explain why Baldwin was heavily targeted or confirm whether operations continue. Meanwhile, residents seek transparency from local officials, whom they believe cooperated with federal agents. Megan Timmerman, a lifelong Baldwin resident, said she initially felt helpless: “I live right in the heart of town, and I feel like I could look out my window and see something happening all the time.”
