Staff Reports
Whitewater, a small town in Wisconsin, is feeling the strain of dealing with the influx of immigrants, both legal and illegal, and they are turning to President Joe Biden for help. According to a letter from Police Chief Daniel Meyer and City Manager John Weidl, the community of 15,000 people has seen an estimated 800 to 1,000 immigrants arrive in the past two years, with many coming from Nicaragua and Venezuela. Chief Meyer explained that it’s difficult to get an accurate count because a portion of the population is undocumented.
'We Are in Dire Need': Small Town's Police Chief Begs Biden for Help After Being Overwhelmed by Migrants via @WestJournalism https://t.co/6L5kozkWvq here
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The letter highlights the challenges that the small community is facing in terms of communication and law enforcement. With a large population of Spanish-speaking immigrants, language has become a barrier, requiring costly translation software. Additionally, the number of unlicensed drivers on the road has tripled, resulting in a drain on police time and resources. The department has seen a significant decrease in self-initiated traffic stops, which indicates that the staff is struggling to keep up with the workload.
The spike in the immigrant population has also created a trust barrier between the community and law enforcement. The letter mentions instances of individuals providing false documents and misleading the staff, leading to an increase in the time spent investigating cases. Furthermore, the town has seen an increase in serious crimes linked to immigrants, including the death of an infant child, multiple sexual assaults, and a kidnapping.
It’s important to note that the letter does not condemn the immigrants or vilify them. On the contrary, the officers have witnessed the terrible living conditions that many migrants are subjected to. The letter emphasizes that the information is shared to highlight the impact of demographic change and the need for additional resources. The town is in dire need of more staff, particularly in the police department, as well as an immigrant liaison.
Chief Meyer clarified that the purpose of the letter was not politically motivated, but rather to describe the situation that Whitewater is facing and to advocate for resources to address it. The goal is to ensure that everyone in the community, regardless of their background, receives basic services and support from the city. Whitewater is appealing to the government for assistance in order to properly serve their entire community and address this critical humanitarian issue.
