(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — In a stunning reversal of his campaign promises, Sheriff David Zoerner has quietly adopted a new policy to end cooperation with federal immigration authorities, effectively halting the honoring of ICE detainers at the Kenosha County Jail.
(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
The change came to light after the release of Edson O. Martinez Pacheco, a 24-year-old Mexican national and repeat offender, who was freed from custody on November 10, 2025, at 11:55 p.m. despite an active ICE detainer. Zoerner is only giving ICE until midnight of the day released, and is no longer giving ICE 48 hours to pick up illegal immigrants. Martinez Pacheco posted an unusually low $1,500 cash bail — a total of $750 in each of his two felony cases — and was released under the new directive implemented by Zoerner.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Sources within the county say Zoerner was strongly lobbied by County Executive Samantha Kerkman, with guidance from Corporation Counsel Joseph Cardamone III, described by many insiders as a far-left legal advisor. Kerkman and Zoerner reportedly agreed to change the policy as part of a political calculation for their upcoming elections, aiming to appeal to more liberal voters and avoid further legal and activist pressure.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
The timing coincides with two major developments: Zoerner’s earlier refusal to sign a 287(g) agreement with ICE, which would have allowed his deputies to act as immigration agents inside the jail, and the ongoing lawsuit filed by Voces de la Frontera and the ACLU of Wisconsin, which accuses Zoerner and the county of unlawfully holding inmates under ICE detainers. That case has loomed over the administration for months, and multiple sources tell Kenosha County Eye the lawsuit factored heavily into the sheriff’s decision to reverse course on cooperating with ICE.
The move has angered many Kenosha County residents who recall Zoerner’s campaign ads, where he stood alongside Republican candidates and touted himself as tough on illegal immigration. He even made multiple taxpayer-funded trips to the southern border, meeting with Texas sheriffs and filming promotional material about border enforcement — all while promising “full cooperation with ICE.”
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Now, after Supplemental Court Commissioner Michael Masnica slashed Martinez-Pacheco’s bail from $10,000 to $1,500, the suspect walked free again. The same defendant has previously skipped court, been deported, and later re-entered the United States. He may now be back in California or Nevada, where he’s been located before, or deported once again.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
District Attorney Xavier Solis said he was disappointed by the change in policy, saying that it could put public safety at risk:
“Just to be clear, these are individuals who have been arrested for committing crimes in our community — not people randomly rounded up or detained. These illegal aliens being held on ICE detainers are individuals who came here and chose to commit crimes, many of them career criminals. Some of these defendants have victimized local residents, including violent offenses. My concern is for the protection of our community and for the victims who have already suffered.”
Solis added that his office will continue to prosecute criminal cases regardless of immigration status.
Kenosha County Eye has reached out to Sheriff Zoerner, County Executive Samantha Kerkman, and Corporation Counsel Joseph Cardamone III for comment and gave them until Friday, November 14, at 5 p.m. to respond.
This story is being published before their comment deadline because, during previous coverage of Zoerner’s refusal to participate in the 287(g) agreement, the sheriff ignored KCE’s deadline and instead issued his own press release in a strategic attempt to get ahead of our reporting. This time, Kenosha County Eye is ensuring that tactic doesn’t happen again.
If any of the three officials respond by the deadline, KCE will publish a follow-up story with their full statements.
110 Responses
Zoerner is a liar as we can see.
Samantha forgets her supporters.
Lord help you all.
Thank you Kevin!
ICE can work around these officialdom Worms. They are building networks of angry citizen disaffected law enforcement, ex-military, and local informers. ICE and Maga are assembling an invisible in plain sight local Weimar-SA style units that will protect public safety from Worms in officialdom and the Marxist/LGBTQ infiltrated state and Fed justice systems in the Blue state counties and cities.
AMEN!!! GO TRUMP!!!
At least Dave is not in the Epstein files
Duh
You and I could suddenly be in the Epstein files, if we pissed off the right people.
Neither is Trump you clown.
What did you just mutter?
Anon… Shut up.
Confirmed: Right.Over.The.Target.
WELL SHE’S TED’S BUDDY SOOOOOO….THESE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT NOTHING BUT MONEY AND THEMSELVES!
THANKS KEVIN!!! EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS SERIOUSLY DISTURBING BULLSHIT! SAM & ZO ARE NOTHING MORE THAN WEAK ASS FOOLS! THIS IS PURE LIBTARDED DUMOCRATIC SOCIALIST COMMUNIST BULLSHIT IN DEFYING ICE!! I’LL NEVER VOTE FOR ZOERNER AGAIN! GROW SOME BALLS!!!! GO TRUMP! GO ICE! MAGA! CLOSED BORDERS! STOP FENTYNAL! FIGHT CRIME! NO MORE FREE SH*T FOR ILLEGALS!!! EVERYTHING “COMMON SENSE!!!”
They are ignorant assclowns. They think this will make the marxists like them. They will both be bent over. Maybe zoerner likes it
So watc was his charges ? Just curious yeah I can look it up but wanna see if anyone knows
It’s time to call for a vote of no confidence in these individuals. If they are not going to follow their promises the public needs to band together and fire them from their job’s.
Sam is a pig, we all know and Zoerner is a prick we all know.
Welcome to the Twilight Zone.
So disappointed in Zoerner! I voted for him. He clearly isn’t a republican!
He was a POS before he was elected, and he hasn’t changed.
Dave and Sam say it ain’t So. OMG
No different than Beth, will he give them cookies and coffee too?
Well I guess he’s one and done, I won’t vote for him next time.
He’s actually a socialist democrat.
He’s as much a republican and Sheriff Clark was a a “democrat” lol
I MIGHT AGREE
Off topic, but, He represents…the Lollipop Guild…the Lollipop Guild…the Lollipop Guild. And in the name of…the Lollipop Guild…he’d like to welcome you to Munch…kin…land.
Apparently he’s retiring after his one term
This is disgusting!
Piece of sh*t coward, just like the rest. We’re turning into an extension of Lake County. What a joke.
Sadly this has only accelerated within the past decade, thanks to our boneheaded politicians pushing and astroturfing unsustainable “growth” for the city and county. All to bloat theirs and their donors’ coffers, all at our expense. And people will still go about thinking nothing is wrong. We’re cooked.
No, not if you simply get off of their pot and act with very angry others directly against them – and their families – just as they do and will continue to do to your’s. Like a biblical demon, they rely on and feed off of your fear of their social bully and temporary official institutional power to keep you suppresed. Also, consider…many of their own subordinates despise them and are your invisible allies. And moreover…they are products of Feminine Culture and are inherently emotionally unstable and of weak character. The.Masculine.Principle need only to activate to in words of the grest Al Bundy, “Wash the gay away”.
I like your style. We need more people like you. Our voices will be heard by any means necessary.
Their wet dream is to turn this into lake county north.
Yall crazy in these comments
Yall an idiot for not caring 😉
Follow the money. Check their bank accts.
Flip flops like this can only be explained by one thing,
and it’s green.
This betrayal disgusts me.
Typical libtard…unkempt and sloppy looking.And throw in Wirch for good measure.
Another Undocumented Democrat reveals themselves.
I’m going to be such an asshole to every Mexican I see around here, idgaf
Can you say racist because not every Mexican comes from Mexico? There is Mexican Americans, dumb ass. I hope your children have fucking children with people outside of their fucking race.
Oh no! The big R word. I’ll wear that shit with pride. The fuck you gonna do?
LEGAL MEXICANS GOOD! ILLEGAL MEXICANS BAD! CROSSING ILLEGALLY = “ILLEGAL!!”
CROSSING LEGALLY = “LEGAL!!” WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO GET THIS INTO YOUR THICK F**KING SKULLS??? I HOPE YOU GET ROBBED, RAPED, AND STABBED BY AN “ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT!!!”
No, if you’re from here you’re an American.
The true meaning of racial profiling. Are you going to be an asshole to every person with brown skin & brown hair? Let me educate you, not all “Mexicans” have brown skin & brown hair. Therefore I’m curious, how will you know? I don’t agree in any way with the actions of this man but I do know for a fact EVERY RACE commits crimes!! God for bid nothing ever happens to you or your family one day and you need the helping hand of a “Mexican”.
BEING HERE ILLEGALLY “IS A CRIME IN ITSELF YOU DUMB MOTHER F**KER!!!!”
Why are you so angry? Is it because you could be the minority one day? LOL!!!
I’LL TAKE THE HELPING HAND OF A LEGAL MEXICAN ANY DAY I EVEN HAVE A COUPLE FRIENDS WHO ARE BUT NOT AN “ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT!” THAT IN ITSELF IS A CRIME! GO F**K YOUR DUMBASS SELF!
Spoken like a true racist! LOL!!! “I’m not racist, I have Mexican friends”…hilarious! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT! THEY AREN’T ALL HERE ILLEGALLY AND THE ONES WHO CAME ILLEGALLY ARE NOT ALL BAD FELONS!!! THE LEGAL ONES CAN BE BETTER THAN ANY WHITE FRIEND I’VE EVER HAD! HOPEFULLY YOU TREAT THE WRONG ONE BAD!
Yes, if they came illegally they are assholes.
Get a new corporate counsel!
I wish that Samantha Kerkman and David Zoerner would understand that no matter how much they pander to Democrats in Kenosha County, not a single self-described liberal, leftist, progressive, or Democrat will ever vote for them no matter what they do. Pandering to left especially on illegal immigration or crime only alienates the conservative, moderate, Republican base who elected them in 2024.
Will never vote for him or for Samantha again. They’ve shown their true colors.
F**K THEM BOTH! TED KMIEC SUCK UPS! LIARS, CHEATERS, LIBTARDED DUMOCRATIC MORONS!!! COMMIE SOCIALISTS!!!
Fuck that fat piece of shit. Now they can do shit like this.
https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2025/11/12/murder-charges-filed-against-illegal-immigrant-hitman-who-prosecutors-say-was-paid-1200-to-kill-victim-in-beach-park/
If either of them run again for office they don”t have my vote!!!
POS
He fat, sloppy and smells like an ashtray. What a disgrace.
ICE should take Zoerner along with all the illegals he is harboring
YES!!! OUST THIS F**KING TRAITOR!
I hope he steps over a line and the net drops on him.
Sanctuary county
DUMB F**K COUNTY!!!
Played you sucker racist ha ha!!!
LIBTARDED DUMBASS!
The Kenosha Sheriff department has a contentious relationship with ICE. If I recall correctly, the previous Sheriff cancelled an ICE agreement/contract some years ago, it “cost” the department a pile of money. KCE again insinuates impropriety in county government thus cementing a “yellow rag” publication! KCE is the best source of Kenosha news. Subscribe, you wont be disappointed. BTW Samantha needs to update her style, she’s looking haggish these days. How about a little make up Sam.
Why no mention that zoerner needs a diet while you’re commenting Sam needs some make up? Unpacking that, chief.
I think the problem was on the ICE end which paid the county beaucoup bucks and then pulled the plug.
Good. They’re starting to realize all these aging, rotting, corpses that call themselves republicans will be DYING shortly and the youth coming to replace them- as their ashes scatter in the wind, mere dust specs on the windshield of time and memory- does not f*** with ICE, republican bootlicking, this weird and desperate white supremacy resurgence, Christian nationalism, etc. But just to be clear- young’s libs and lefties won’t be voting for these decrepit hacks either. Democrats can choke on the same boot republicans are sucking on. Not having a backbone and being wishy-washy, pandering, cry babies doesn’t help them look like strong candidates we can trust with our vote. Keep it cute, Kenosha! And good riddance to you geriatric whining, weak, republicans, may the door hit ya where the good lord split ya, suckers!
what a jerk you are
GO F**K YOURSELF! DUMBASS! GO TRUMP! DRAIN THE SWAMP! DRAIN THE KENOSHA SWAMP TOO!
lol nice try at trolling, doesn’t work.
What you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
The shaking out continues as RINOs and Fake Conservative are all being exposed by there action.
Forget their Lying Lips, their daily deeds speak Loudly.
Thank You Kevin Matthewson for shining the spotlight on Truth.
Zoerner is a wolf in sheep’s clothing! What a disgusting person
No, he’s a disgusting pig in human clothing.
I am reaching out to express my opinion today
https://www.kenoshacountywi.gov/formcenter/Sheriff-15/Contact-Us-Sheriffs-Office-105
Thank you, I did as well.
These 2 have lost my support. Traitors. Angers me to think we voted for law and order just to be contradicted by these so called conservatives or Republicans? Out with them. Shame on them for not standing with ICE.
YEAH F**K THESE A~HOLES!
Great job in covering all this, Kevin! A BIG DEAL.
F**K THESE COMMUNIST MOTHER F**KERS! SOCIALIST COMMUNIST LIBTARDED DUMOCRATIC SCUMBAGS! THIS COUNTY IS A F**KING JOKE! ALL OF THESE LIBTARDED ASSHOLES ARE COINCIDENTALLY BUDDIES OF TED KMIEC TOO! ALL OF THEM ARE A BUNCH OF GARBAGE! IT’S TIME TO TAKE OUT THE TRASH!!! HOW ABOUT IN THE NEXT ELECTIONS STOP VOTING FOR SH*T THAT GOES IN LINE WITH THAT CROOKED ASS BLM BULLSH*T GROUP AND LGBTQ SICK F**KING SH*T AND FOR FREE SH*T AND GET A F**KING JOB AND AND STOP GETTING OFF ON SICK SH*T!!!! THIS MEANS STOP VOTING FOR LIBTARDED DUMOCRATIC MORONS AND RESEARCH THE REPUBLICANS TO BE SURE THEY AREN’T JUST RINO’S!!!! AKA~CLOSET LIBTARDED DUMOCRATIC MORONS!!! UNTIL THEN THESE A ~ HOLES CAN GO F**K THEMSELVES AND MOVE BACK TO SHITCAGO!!!!
Nothing will change. Your freedoms as you knew them are gone
Precisely. Imagine believing we can vote our way out of this lmao. Just vote harder! LOL
Like George Carlin once said:
I don’t vote. Two reasons.
First of all it’s meaningless; this country was bought and sold a long time ago. The shit they shovel around every 4 years doesn’t mean a fucking thing.
Secondly, I believe if you vote, you have no right to complain. People like to twist that around – they say, ‘If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain’, but where’s the logic in that?
If you vote and you elect dishonest, incompetent people into office who screw everything up, you are responsible for what they have done. You caused the problem; you voted them in; you have no right to complain. I, on the other hand, I who did not vote, who in fact did not even leave the house on election day, am in no way responsible for what these people have done and have every right to complain about the mess you created that I had nothing to do with.
You sound kind of non-committal here; tell us how you really feel.
I hope to hear from Zoerner regarding this. We all voted for him, so let’s give him the benefit of the doubt until he provides a reasonable explanation tic tac tic. By the way, $1,500 is much more than the signature that Michel would be giving him. Based on your article, it seems we may soon end up belonging to the blue state of Illinois. These three appear to be more aligned with the Sanctuary State than with those who placed them in public office here. Samantha wouldn’t have a problem selling her soul and giving us away to Governor Pritzker in exchange for another four years.
It’s all a show. If the system wanted to get rid of illegal’s two things could be done overnight.
1. Anyone that employees an illegal will be fined and jailed
2. Anyone renting to an illegal will be fined and jailed
No job, no housing = self deportation
It’s getting harder and harder for a private person to determine who and legal alien is, between false identification and referrals. That’s why we need local law enforcement, politicians, and ice all looking in the mirror every day and saying I am going to work for my country and only for my country.
DemonRAT will not be getting my vote the next time around and that’s okay, we now better understand just who he is and what he stands on.
Losing our support is one thing, what are the options 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
Hey Zoerner, your supposed to be Law Enforcement!!!
How the Hell do you sleep at Night you fling traitors you and Kerkman, both traitors to your country and your constituents.
Both are Huge disappointments.
So this guy enters illegally, DHS sends him back. He reenters, is charged with felony shoplifting in our county, and faces four counts of bail jumping — and these clowns let him go? ICE is coming for him, and our local authorities release him even with a detainer in place? Not to mention the violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326, which exposes him to two years in prison. This clearly shows that our DA and some judges are the only ones with integrity in this county. Let’s see how Judge Dugan is handled — hopefully, it will serve as an example for many here.
Yep and we seem to have court commissioners who are actually subverting the rule of law by making sure people never end up in a courtroom where they could be tried, and led off in handcuffs if convicted instead of let out to flee because they don’t want to be let out in handcuffs or go to a trial.
Kevin, thank you for exposing these worthless, fake ass, right leaning supposedly politicians then lean on their left leaning easy on crime. I bet this corporation council if his wife was raped by somebody illegal he wouldn’t feel that way piece of shit.
I voted for both Kerman and Zoerner but they just lost my vote. The question I have is, who are viable candidates to run against them next election? I get it may be early but Republicans need to get going on finding alternative candidates? Any ideas Kevin?
Keep a close eye on the Kenosha GOP as we head into spring election season. Watch who they’re not only backing, but who their leaders are hanging around with. Kerkman was welcomed at their Lincoln Day dinner, are they going to be backing her? Was Zoerner there?
Eyes wide open.
After decades and decades, why do RINO’s think that appealing to the 20% of an easy 80/20 issue will somehow help them? No democrat voter in this area will vote for anyone with a (R) after their name no matter how much the (R) cowtows to the loony left.
When it comes to law enforcement, this is outrageous that the Sheriff takes the side of illegal alien criminals over innocent residents. This is a major lose/lose issue for everyone including the Sheriff and the County Exec.
Maybe they wanted to be invited to the “cool kids” Christmas parties…
I agree with all you said here except the “No democrat voter in this area will vote for anyone with a (R) after their name no matter how much the (R) cowtows to the loony left.” part. I’m a registered (D) and I’ve voted for some (R)’s in the past. Depends on the person. But I wouldn’t vote for anyone who puts this criminal back on the street.
There isn’t an elected or appointed official in kenosha county worth their weight in shit.
That fat little Hobbit needs to go. Sam Kerkman, Mike Masnica, Chad Kerkman, Zoerner, and so many others are going to make Kenosha into Chicago North.
It’s what you get when you elect a school cop who will change parties to win. This guy was a piece of crap when he was the Wilmot HS safety officer and it seems like he is now an even bigger POS!
Yay!!!
I specifically remember BoZO’s campaign slogan:
“Make Kenosha Safe Again”. What a fucking lie.
If BoZO isn’t working with ICE to get illegals out of
Kenosha County then he obviously has no intention
of making it safe here again. Wasted vote!
A Kenosha County sheriff candidate who prioritized deporting bad FIBs back to their home state would get my vote.
Could this guy be any more of a letdown?
Samantha!
What the fuck is wrong with you?
What the fuck?
The disappointment is real and all the other crap is nothing compared to this breaking of your oath.
Don’t count on a vote from me. No support but plenty of support for whoever runs as GOP in your place.
It’s real easy to play
‘Can You Spot The Reprobate?’
in Kenosha County. There’s an over abundance of soulless, depraved mind Civil Servants who seriously lack a functioning moral compass.
I’m surrounded by morons. Thinking republicans or democrats are going to save you is beyond stupid.
What tavern they hangin around at?
OH SAMANTHA!
WHY, WHY, WHY! 😑
I’m just going to leave this here too…
https://youtu.be/UOTAdvc1MJM