POLK COUNTY — Polk County District Attorney Jeffrey Kemp has issued a statement addressing recent concerns about comments he made in an email exchange regarding ICE enforcement practices.
PRESS RELEASE
To the Citizens of Polk County:
It has been my honor to serve as your District Attorney for the past eight years. During that time, I’ve worked diligently in what is an incredibly demanding role, always striving to act with integrity and in the best interests of our community. Like anyone, I’ve made mistakes—none of us are perfect—but my guiding principle has remained the same: to work in partnership with law enforcement, with public safety as our top priority.
A recent social media post has raised concerns about an email I sent to a statewide listserv used by Wisconsin prosecutors to share questions, resources, and legal insight. I want to address this directly and transparently.
The email in question was part of a discussion prompted by another prosecutor asking if anyone had contact information for ICE. My response was as follows:
“So I have a question to all of you, considering the way these things have been going nationally, in what looks like a violation of due process. I will confess, I am not the smartest person in the room, but the way ICE is doing this—masked, no hearings, no warrants (I’m assuming, I could be wrong, I’ve not had this in my county yet)—are we obligated to assist in this?”
“Because, frankly, my gut tells me this is wrong.”
Another District Attorney, from Rusk County, replied:
“You are not alone. The way this is going down is wrong and will eventually lead to violence. ICE will get no cooperation from my office so long as they continue these abusive tactics.”
That is the entirety of the exchange—two comments in a professional forum shared with 603 recipients across the state. There was no secret policy change or directive. In fact, my office has no formal policy on ICE at all. Immigration enforcement is a matter of federal law; as a District Attorney, I prosecute state cases. Immigration simply falls outside my jurisdiction.
Legal professionals often engage in open, honest discussions about complex or emerging issues. That’s what this was. Attorneys are analytical by nature—we debate, we ask questions, we try to understand the legal and ethical implications of our work. This was a conversation among colleagues, nothing more.
Unfortunately, this discussion has been taken out of context to suggest something radical or inappropriate—particularly in light of my decision to run for re-election as an Independent. Let me be clear: the District Attorney’s office is not a political office. I’ve said this many times. Prosecutors do not serve political parties; we serve the law and the public, regardless of affiliation.
My decision to run as an Independent reflects my commitment to neutrality and fairness in this role—not ideology. Many of my friends in the Polk County Republican Party know this about me, and they’ve heard me say it time and again.
My duty is to protect all members of our community, uphold the law, and ensure justice is served without bias or political influence. That’s what I’ve done for the past eight years, and it’s what I will continue to do.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey L. Kemp, District Attorney
Last Update: Jun 10, 2025 1:07 pm CDT
