‘Focus on detaining serious criminals, not people who’ve built lives here. Families shouldn’t be broken apart.’

Delaney Zimmel, 22, is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee pursuing her Master of Social Work. She is passionate about social justice and improving the well-being of underrepresented communities. She shares her perspective on immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, and specifically, more ICE officers in U.S. cities and the effect on families and communities.

Bailey Stephenson: To start, what is your general understanding of what ICE does?

Delaney Zimmel: ICE is a federal agency that detains and deports people who are here illegally. I think they also oversee broader immigrant operations, though I don’t know much about what they did before this administration.

Stephenson: When you first heard about ICE increasing enforcement in cities, what was your reaction?

Zimmel: My initial reaction was bad. I saw videos of them hurting individuals, people just living their lives, and it felt really aggressive.

Stephenson: Why do you think these cities were a focus?

Zimmel: Immigrants tend to live in larger cities because of work and family networks. For example, Milwaukee’s south side has a large Hispanic population. Families and friends cluster where there are opportunities and community support.

Stephenson: How do you personally feel about increasing immigration enforcement?

Zimmel: If it’s done safely, legally, and without discrimination, targeting criminals could make sense. But recently, it’s become aggressive and racially biased. We’ve just lost track of who we’re really trying to detain. People who’ve been here for 20 years, contributing to society, shouldn’t be at risk while the truly dangerous individuals go unnoticed. Safety and fairness should be the top priorities.

Stephenson: Have you had any personal experiences that changed how you think about immigration or made it feel more real?

Zimmel: Yes. I work at a restaurant where many back-of-house staff are Hispanic and here illegally. When ICE actions were happening, I saw the fear on their faces. Even coworkers born in the U.S. with immigrant parents were scared for their families. It made me realize this isn’t abstract. It’s real, and it affects people I care about.

Stephenson: What would you hope for the future of immigration enforcement?

Zimmel: I hope enforcement is safe, legal, and non-discriminatory. Focus on detaining serious criminals, not people who’ve built lives here. Families shouldn’t be broken apart. The system should be precise and humane, protecting both citizens and immigrants while upholding justice.