May 28, 2014

Rosario Socope, a Guatemalan immigrant in the country illegally, had an unwelcome surprise waiting for her when she attended a pretrial hearing on a felony charge at a courthouse in Brooklyn this month. As she stepped out of the courtroom into a public hallway, she was approached by immigration agents seeking to deport her.

As her husband, her social worker and one of her lawyers looked on aghast, the agents hauled her away.

The encounter was only the most recent in a long series of such cases across the country that immigrant advocates and politicians say have spread fear of courthouses among immigrants and eroded their willingness to participate in the judicial system, with profound civil rights implications.

MILWAUKEE (WITI) — It’s one of Milwaukee’s darkest secrets: Women and children being trafficked for sex. Experts say it’s a lucrative business — and Milwaukee is a major hub. A tough new bill would make it easier for human trafficking victims to break free.

Last year, ten human trafficking victims between the ages of 13 and 17 were recovered in Milwaukee.

That’s believed to be only a fraction of the kids being sold for sex.

A new bill would make sure sex trafficking victims get treatment — instead of jail time.

“It is a huge issue in this city. We’re hearing that if you want to be a pimp, this is where they train them, if you will,” Debbie Zwicky said.

MILWAUKEE (WITI) — Americans are observing Memorial Day against the backdrop of a growing scandal over long wait times and secret records at Veterans Affairs medical facilities. But how will the backlogs in other states affect Wisconsin’s ability to serve its own veterans? It’s a question being asked by every member of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation.

The VA facility in Milwaukee is a sort of home away from home for Marine Corps veteran Kenneth Mueller.

“In my opinion, they don’t deny any veteran any coverage,” Mueller said.