Barrett Slams Trump, Federal Government on Immigration

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett celebrated Milwaukee’s 171st birthday with a speech about what he called the federal government’s failed immigration reform, criticizing President Donald Trump during an event featuring Milwaukee’s local heroes.

The Milwaukee Press Club created the event for Milwaukee’s 171st birthday sponsored by companies such as Meijer, Miller Lite, and Gruber downtown late Thursday night. The spacious room was filled with Milwaukee Press Club journalists, supporters, and nominees as Milwaukee’s local heroes were presented.

Ten finalists were chosen from those nominated for Milwaukee’s superhero search. All were presented on a stage centered in front of a grand cake in honor of them and Milwaukee’s birthday. The multi-tiered cake featured cartoon buildings and a superhero that encircled the top of the skyline.

However, Milwaukee’s mayor turned the night political. Barrett stole the stage as he told a vivid tale of a family torn apart due to the federal government using local government’s police force as border agents.

“People are afraid,” Barrett began. “They are afraid because of what the president of the united states did yesterday.”

Barrett referred to the executive actions President Trump took to enforce the border between Mexico and the United States. Barrett addressed the question of sanctuary cities, and Trump’s threats to cut federal funding for providing cities that sanctuary to undocumented citizens. The City of Milwaukee is not technically a sanctuary city, although Milwaukee County – a different governmental entity – makes some lists of them.

However, Barrett said he wanted to promote the relationship between Milwaukee’s police Force and its people. Barrett said that Milwaukee’s police force should be focused on public safety and not on policing immigration.

“We have a situation in our country where, let’s face it, the federal government has failed to enact meaningful immigration reform,” Barrett said. “That’s the reality.”

Barrett painted a vivid about a 6-year-old boy who had grown up in Milwaukee but because of his parents bringing him to the United States as an illegal immigrant, he would be torn apart from his family and his community.

“I don’t want to break up his family,” Barrett said to the crowd, “because he didn’t do anything wrong when he was a 6-year-old-boy.”

Barrett said that the job of police is to make the streets safer from crime, not to track illegal immigrants within the city. The vivid picture Barrett painted for the audience is one he does not want to see become reality for both the boy and his city’s police officers.

The overall message of the night wasn’t what President Trump has done in the Oval Office, though, but rather what people were doing here in Milwaukee.

UW-Milwaukee alum, Amy Jahns and her co-chairman, Cathy Schulze wanted to bring some positive news back to Milwaukee.

“There was a lot of negatives that happened in the city,” Schultz said. “And to counter that we really wanted to do something positive, something uplifting, something to celebrate the people in Milwaukee who are doing wonderful tings that make our community great.”

Schultz and her panel came up with the celebrating Milwaukee’s superheroes idea back in 2016 and wanted to focus on those who were giving back to the community.

Barrett said that he believes the event will promote optimism in light of the negative news surrounding the election.

“Real lives are being affected by this,” Barrett said, “And it is important we, as mayors, to speak out about what is going on here.”

The event supporters hope that by supporting those who support the community, they can showcase the good that is going on in the city.

“Maybe people will be inspired to do a little it more to bring out the good in our city,” Shultz said, “Maybe we can inspire change in a positive way.”

Barrett’s message about those who feel afraid for their way of life here in Milwaukee, a place which they call home, brought applause from the crowd in celebration of a positive outlook for the community.

The list of nominees and sponsors is listed on the Milwaukee Press Club’s website with a bio of all they have accomplished in the community. The event’s decorative cake was provided by Aggie’s Bakery and Cake Shop, who had made and delivered birthday cakes for the past five years.