Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt has warned that Wisconsin is in serious trouble if President Donald Trump does not win the upcoming election, citing the worsening border crisis and its impact on the state. Speaking during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in Milwaukee, Schmidt described the growing challenges law enforcement is facing as crime rates rise and resources are stretched thin.
Schmidt, who heads the Badger State Sheriffs Association, testified that the border crisis is severely affecting Wisconsin’s communities. “If Trump doesn’t win this election, we are screwed,” he quoted a fellow sheriff as saying. Another colleague told him that many people don’t realize the extent of the problem.
Schmidt detailed his own experience in Dodge County, explaining that Mexican cartels are bringing drugs into his jurisdiction, causing a rise in violence and drug trafficking. He expressed concern for the safety of his officers and their families, saying, “I’m fearful for my family and those that serve with me.”
The sheriff also highlighted the difficulty officers encounter when pulling over individuals who lack valid identification or licenses, complicating their ability to enforce laws effectively. “I would love to put up a border around Dodge County or around the state of Wisconsin, but we need the federal government to do that at our southern border,” Schmidt said. He pointed out that the state suffers from 1,500 fentanyl-related deaths annually.
During the hearing, Schmidt thanked Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) for attending but criticized Democrat Sen. Tammy Baldwin for her absence. He questioned why she was not present to address the urgent crisis affecting Wisconsin communities.
Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney also testified, describing the drug trafficking surge in his county. “We’re seeing drug seizures at levels we’ve never seen before,” he reported. Toney explained that the influx of illegal immigrants being prosecuted for crimes is pushing the county’s jail system to its limits, with local officials considering expanding facilities to handle the burden.
Republicans, including President Trump and Senate candidate Eric Hovde, have made the border crisis a focal point in their campaigns, emphasizing the urgent need for federal action to protect communities like those in Wisconsin.
