Walworth County Board Executive Committee Voted 4-1 To Take No Action And File The Republican Anti-immigrant Nonbinding Immigration Enforcement Referendum

The Republican Party of Walworth County anti-immigrant nonbinding referendum for the April 2020 election to require state and local officials who take the oath of office to enforce federal immigration laws failed to pass in the Walworth County Executive Board Committee.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

October 14, 2019

Elkhorn, Wisconsin - On Monday, the Walworth County Executive Board Committee voted 4-1 to take no action and file a Memorandum dated October 4, 2019 from Christopher R. Goebel, the Chairman of the Republican Party of Walworth County (RPWC) that was sent to the Walworth County Board of Supervisors/Executive Committee for review and approval of a nonbinding referendum for the April 2020 election to require state and local officials who take the oath of office to enforce federal immigration laws. The Executive Committee hearing on Monday was packed and most including local Democrats who spoke during the hearing were against the anti-immigrant referendum.  

The Republican Party of Walworth County Face account posted the following comment concerning the outcome of their proposed anti-immigrant referendum, "...The 5 person Executive Committee voted 4-1 to "file" the request on a motion from Dan Kilkenny.  In other words put it in a file and forget about it and take no action. Very disappointing."

According to Goebel, the RPWC members had unanimously approved the referendum and it read, "Under our Constitution system, the federal government is charged with establishing immigration requirements and laws that apply in all states and municipalities. Should Wisconsin's state and local officials who take the oath to uphold the Constitution and faithfully carry out the laws of the United States, Wisconsin and their locality, stand by their oath of office and uphold federal Immigration laws?"

The referendum submitted by the RPWC was nonbinding and was also considered unconstitutional. The U.S. Congress is the sole legislative branch that can legislate federal laws and enforcement of immigration laws and not state governments.