Rumors of widespread ICE raids false: police

Rumors of recent federal immigration raids at Jefferson County-area businesses appear to be just that — rumors. Fort Atkinson Police Chief Adrian Bump told the Daily Union that the ICE agents contacted the Fort Atkinson Police Department a few days prior on Thursday, Feb. 23, or Friday, Feb. 24, indicating that agents would be in the city looking for one specific person that was on their wanted list. “They were not here for any other purpose except for one specific target person they were looking for and was wanted.” The chief said Fort Atkinson police were not involved in the event; the federal agency merely contacted the police department to advise it of their presence and anticipated action. “If something were to go wrong and we were responding there, or if they need help, we already know where they are and what they are doing.” Bump said the Fort Atkinson Police Department even offers such notifications when it is seeking to arrest or simply interview a subject — it will notify that local police department to make its officers aware of who will be within the city and where they are going in case they need help. “It appears this general protocol was followed with Fort Atkinson Police Department and Jefferson Police Department.” Earlier in February, Jefferson Police Chief Chief Ken Pileggi pointed out that ICE agents were in Jefferson to executive a custody arrest warrant.