Milwaukee County Supervisors have publicly criticized MKE Urban Stables following an incident involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that led to the termination of one of their volunteers. Supervisors Juan Miguel Martinez, Jack Eckblad, and Steven Shea voiced disapproval over the organization's handling of the confrontation that took place in their parking lot, calling for full transparency and organizational accountability in a Milwaukee County statement released early today.
During the reported incident, which was not an MKE Urban Stables-approved event, two volunteers witnessed ICE agents using the nonprofit's parking lot. Only one volunteer was disciplined for purportedly breaking a policy that, according to officials, did not even exist. Supervisor Martinez pointed out that "ICE was welcomed," and condemned the punishment of a volunteer "for standing up to them." He emphasized the need to immediately clarify the narrative surrounding the incident. According to a Milwaukee County news release, Martinez is working with community members, including Heather Asinyabi, to ensure the stables' focus remains on youth development.
Eckblad expounded on the potential hazards of ICE's presence in spaces designated safe for children, such as schools and nonprofits, calling it a "threat to public safety and our social fabric." He and his fellow Supervisors are demanding that Milwaukee Urban Stables provide a clear outline of their policies to protect those under their care from "the unwarranted coercion of ICE officers."
In unity, the Supervisors are pushing to both protect and support the volunteer who acted in defense of the community's trust. Supervisor Shea added, "Nonprofits like MKE Urban Stables exist to serve Milwaukee’s youth, not to facilitate federal enforcement actions." He reiterated the importance of maintaining safe and inclusive public spaces for community organizations, underscoring their service to the youth over becoming platforms for "coercion or intimidation," as stated in their news release. The Supervisors are seeking a full investigation by the MKE Urban Stables Board of Directors into how ICE gained access to their property and are insisting upon accountability from the leadership to clarify the sequence of events and to ensure such an incident does not recur.
Milwaukee County Supervisors are urging MKE Urban Stables to implement corrective measures following a recent incident that has drawn attention to the responsibilities of nonprofit organizations within the community. The event has sparked discussions about how such organizations serve Milwaukee’s vulnerable youth, with officials emphasizing accountability and oversight. The steps MKE Urban Stables takes in response are expected to set a precedent for how nonprofits cooperate with federal enforcement agencies moving forward.
