Madison's Open Borders Sheriff Endorses Susan Crawford

Wisconsin's most radical sheriff backs Susan Crawford, the Democrat-endorsed candidate for the April 1 Supreme Court race, raising questions about Crawford's support for dangerous sanctuary cities.

Kalvin Barrett, a UW-Madison graduate first appointed as Dane County Sheriff by Democrat Gov. Tony Evers in 2021, is a "diversity and inclusion" consultant who also teaches "diversity" in policing at Madison Area Technical College. He's been called a "trailblazer" for "justice and equity" by a former Obama USAID agent.

Similarly, Barrett belongs to a national group, NOBLE, that pushes "equity" in law enforcement in response to George Floyd's death in 2020. Asked about Floyd, a drug addict who died with a lethal dose of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and THC in his system, Barrett said: "I saw myself, I saw my cousins, I saw my nephews, I saw my potential son in that video, on the ground," criticizing police officers' "lack of action."

But it's Barrett's support for the 70,000 illegal aliens living in Wisconsin that's most at odds with voters.

"We do not plan to participate in federal enforcement efforts" to deport criminal aliens, a Barrett spokeswoman announced in late February. FOIA documents reveal he's refused 90% of ICE requests to hold deportable aliens in local jails until federal officials can take them into custody.

While Wisconsin Republicans, led by President Donald Trump, are trying to deport the 70,000 illegal aliens living in the state, Barrett has made it harder to crack down on sanctuary cities shielding them. That includes murderers, rapists, drunk drivers, and members of Venezuela's ultraviolent Tren de Aragua gang.

ICE lists both Dane and Milwaukee Counties—whose Sheriff, Denita Ball (D), also endorsed Crawford—as "non-cooperative institutions," meaning they don't cooperate with ICE agents despite past Republican efforts to outlaw it in the legislature.

Almost immediately after Trump took office, Barrett withdrew from a federal program that reimburses local jurisdictions for the cost of incarcerating illegal aliens accused of felonies—with support from the ACLU. In contrast, 8 Republican-run counties have ICE agreements to hold illegal aliens in jail until federal agents can take custody of them.

In February, Restoration News reported on a new bill introduced by Sen. Julian Bradley (R-New Berlin) to ban sanctuary cities in Wisconsin and require counties enroll in that federal program to save costs for taxpayers.

Barrett quickly attacked the bill: "It is not the state legislature's role to dictate how law enforcement does its job," he said in a statement, including policing illegal aliens living in "our communities."

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, a close ally of Barrett, similarly savaged the bill before it was even introduced, praising illegal aliens as "part of our society."

Crawford has been endorsed by a host of leftist groups, including Planned Parenthood—the nation's top abortion provider increasingly involved in transgender surgeries—and EMILY's List, which funds far-left Democrats running for office. She's also backed by heavy spending from George Soros and the Wisconsin Democratic Party.

That's created serious conflict-of-interest concerns for Crawford, who previously defended Planned Parenthood in her private Madison law practice. After August, when the new court term begins, the Supreme Court will decide on a key lawsuit brought by Planned Parenthood deciding the future of abortion "rights" in Wisconsin—yet Crawford has declined to recuse herself from that case should she win in April.

Crawford faces Republican former Attorney General Brad Schimel in the April 1 election.

(READ MORE: With Susan Crawford, Planned Parenthood is on the Ballot in Wisconsin)