For years, we have seen far-left politicians demonize and attack Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for simply doing their jobs and enforcing the law.
High-profile Democratic elected officials have spent the past year vilifying ICE with reprehensible labels, even drawing outrageous comparisons to some of the darkest groups in history. Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) called ICE, “Trump’s modern-day Gestapo.” Governor JB Pritzker (D-IL) claimed America was essentially becoming “Nazi Germany.” And who could forget when Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) referred to ICE as President Trump’s personal police force and declared that they’re guilty of “State Sponsored Terrorism.”
When you dehumanize a group long enough, you normalize the idea that they’re not just wrong – but illegitimate, dangerous, and deserving of harm. And once that line is crossed, violent extremists begin to act on it. We’re now seeing that play out in real time, with public chants in New York City openly calling for ICE agents to be executed.
Because of this reckless rhetoric, assaults against ICE agents are up 1,300%, vehicular attacks are up an unprecedented 3,200%, and death threats are up 8,000%. Last June, an officer was dragged by a car for more than 100 yards. In September, a sniper opened fire from a rooftop at an ICE field office in Dallas, spraying bullets indiscriminately at the building.
As you’ve probably heard, this week in Minneapolis, ICE agents were attempting to carry out a routine operation when a woman pulled her car into their path, blocking them in for several minutes. Agents approached her and instructed her to step out of the vehicle, but she refused. Instead, she began backing up – slowly at first – before suddenly turning and accelerating toward one of the agents, striking him with her car. Fearing for his life, the agent discharged his weapon, fatally wounding her. In a matter of seconds, what began as an act of obstruction sadly escalated into a life-threatening confrontation.
ICE is enforcing federal law and carrying out its mission on behalf of the American people. No one has the authority to obstruct law enforcement operations, and it should also go without saying that no one has the right to threaten officers or weaponize a vehicle in an attempt to harm them. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling recently issued this commonsense reminder, “Let me make this clear; agents, ICE, HSI, are officers, they are agents of law enforcement. If you box them in with vehicles, it is reasonable for them to believe that they are being ambushed. If you do, you will be considered a threat and met with deadly force.”
At a moment when others are stoking outrage, his clarity underscores exactly what responsible leadership looks like – respect the law, don’t interfere with officers, and don’t create situations that put anyone at risk. Whether it’s our local sheriffs, county police, or federal agents, I will always be proud to stand with our law enforcement officers who risk their lives every single day to keep us safe.
Thanks again for starting off your weekend with us! We hope you enjoy this week’s edition of the Wied Wire.
In the Wieds
Back the Blue – Today and Always
Each year on January 9th, we celebrate Law Enforcement Appreciation Day – a day to recognize, celebrate, and thank all of the incredible men and women who put their lives on the line every single day to keep our communities safe. In Northeast Wisconsin, we are blessed to have some of the bravest and hardest working officers in the country. Their tireless and often thankless work does not go unnoticed. Because of their commitment and sacrifice, our families and neighborhoods are safer. Whether serving in county sheriff’s offices, local police departments, state police, or federal agencies, we owe them all a deep debt of gratitude for keeping criminals off our streets. As a Member of Congress, I pledge to always stand with our law enforcement officers. Last year, I was proud to secure $425,000 in federal funds for the Appleton Police Department – and I’m pleased to announce that this funding officially passed the House yesterday as part of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Act for FY26. Ensuring our officers have the tools and resources they need will always be one of my top priorities. I was also proud to vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which provided no tax on overtime, allowing officers to keep more of their hard-earned money. I look forward to continuing to find ways to assist our local law enforcement and being the partner, they deserve. If you see an officer today, take a moment to thank them for everything they do to serve and protect our communities.
Pushing for Progress in Rare Disease Research
This Wednesday, I had the privilege of spending time with the remarkable young leaders participating in the Littlest Tumor Foundation’s NF Young Adult Leadership Program. The Foundation, based in Appleton, has long been a powerful voice for families affected by neurofibromatosis – raising awareness and pushing for the research needed to better understand and treat this disease. These young adults shared their stories with honesty and courage, offering a firsthand look at what it means to navigate NF while advocating for themselves and others. I spoke with them about my work in Congress, the advocacy process, and what life in Washington is really like, but the most meaningful part of the visit was hearing directly from them about the challenges they face and the hope they carry. Their voices reinforce why this work matters. I was proud to cosponsor the Give Kids a Chance Act, which passed the House last month, to help expand pediatric cancer research and ensure that children with rare diseases like NF have access to the most promising treatments. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from these young advocates, and I look forward to continuing to support their efforts and welcoming them back to Washington in the future.
Udderly Honored
[see featured photo above] This week, I was proud to accept the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) Dairy Leadership Award for 2025. This is an annual award given to a select group of members from the U.S. Congress and the Administration who have shown leadership and support for the dairy industry. As WI-08 is the 4th largest dairy producing congressional district and is home to many of the best cheesemakers in the world, supporting the dairy industry has been a top priority for me. As I head into my second year as your Representative, I intend to keep the dairy industry moo-ving forward as one of my top priorities.
District Update
From Congress to the Classroom
To wrap up the year, I had the pleasure of visiting Mrs. Miller’s 7th grade civics classes at Crivitz Middle and High School. I enjoyed the opportunity to speak about my experience in Congress and answer some of their questions about the legislative process. I also want to thank Superintendent Kelly Robinson for taking the time to showcase all of the great work being done throughout the school district!
Oconto County American Legion Council Meeting
A member of my staff recently attended the Oconto County American Legion Council Meeting. During the meeting, Oconto County Veteran Service Officer Ron Christensen addressed the group, and a member of my staff provided an update on the constituent services I can provide. If you are a member of a veterans’ group and want to have a member of my staff address your members, please contact my District Office at 920-301-4500 or reach out through my website here.
Photo of the Week
We have received so many wonderful pictures since we launched the Photo of the Week section of the Wied Wire, and I would love to see more. This week’s photo features a beautiful old church tucked deep in the forest, surrounded by fresh snow – a quiet, timeless scene that captures the stillness of winter in Wisconsin. If you would like to submit a picture to be featured in our Photo of the Week section, please email it to twstaff@mail.house.gov with your name and location.
