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Immigration Agents Arrest Dozens in Rural Western Wisconsin Towns Amid Deportation Efforts
Federal immigration agents have conducted arrests in small towns of western Wisconsin, detaining dozens of immigrants since late 2023. The operations, which peaked in January and February 2024, targeted areas including Baldwin, Hudson, and River Falls in St. Croix County. Local residents and aid groups report ongoing community impacts and efforts to support affected families.
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Federal immigration agents expanded operations from the Minneapolis metropolitan area into rural western Wisconsin earlier in 2024, arresting dozens of people in smaller towns within St. Croix County. The arrests began around Thanksgiving 2023 and intensified in December 2023, continuing to peak in January and February 2024.
Local estimates indicate more than 50 individuals were detained in Baldwin, a town of about 4,000 residents, with additional arrests in nearby Hudson and River Falls.
Baldwin is over 95% white according to the most recent U.S. census data and has a history of leaning Republican in elections. The town's immigrant population has increased in recent years, contributing to the presence of businesses such as a Latino grocery and a Mexican restaurant on its main street, alongside American restaurants, a pharmacy, and other small enterprises.
Beyond the main street and adjacent highways, the area transitions quickly into farmland. The Mexican restaurant, where multiple workers were arrested in February 2024, remains closed, located across from a travel plaza where federal agents also made arrests.
An Ecuadorian market in a nearby town, targeted by immigration agents, has reopened with a sign instructing visitors to ring the bell before entering. J, a Venezuelan who arrived in the United States in 2023 and requested anonymity due to enforcement fears, reported that federal agents had detained his wife, leaving him to care for their 18-month-old child while the family seeks reunification.
” Agents targeted locations including mobile homes, apartment buildings, ethnic restaurants, grocery stores, roads used by commuters, and a large home improvement store.
The operations align with broader immigration enforcement efforts under the administration's policies, including plans for increased deportations announced by President Trump. While arrests have decreased in recent weeks, many residents remain cautious and are staying indoors to avoid encounters.
