PRAIRIE DU CHIEN – On Saturday, former President Donald Trump made a return to Wisconsin, delivering a speech in the small city of Prairie du Chien, known for its riverside location and a population of about 5,500. The event has garnered significant interest from Republicans as they focus their messaging on immigration.

The speech took place inside the Prairie du Chien Area Arts Center. Although the campaign initially aimed for an outdoor gathering, they opted for an indoor venue after the Secret Service raised security concerns over staffing shortages. The auditorium can accommodate around 300 guests, but several hundred others were left waiting outside for entry.

During his address, Trump directed much of his criticism at Vice President Kamala Harris regarding immigration issues. Harris had recently visited the U.S.-Mexico border for the second time as vice president and for the first time since she became the Democratic presidential nominee.

“What she’s done is a total disqualifier,” Trump stated. “We had four years of incompetence. We can’t have another four years of incompetence.”

Trump emphasized that illegal immigration “is more important than anything having to do with the economy … this is something bigger, in a sense, because this is the fabric of our country.”

At one point, Trump acknowledged the “dark” nature of his hour-and-15-minute speech, promising that he would later shift to more upbeat “Make America Great Again” cheers. In a typically scattered manner, he criticized President Joe Biden for his beach outings, referring to Harris as “a very dumb person” and “mentally impaired.”

Trump warned, “If Kamala is reelected, your town and every town just like it all across Wisconsin and all across our country, the heartland, the coast, it doesn’t matter — will be transformed into a third-world hell hole.”

Trump’s visit comes just 37 days before Election Day, with both his and Harris’ campaigns actively engaging in the state. Trump plans to return on Tuesday to visit the Democratic strongholds of Milwaukee and Dane County, while second gentleman Doug Emhoff will also be in Milwaukee on the same day for campaigning.

Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, who represents Prairie du Chien, expressed that he wished Trump’s visit “was under better circumstances.”

“But leaders show up where they need to be,” Van Orden remarked.

Republicans Highlight Case Involving Suspected Venezuelan Gang Member

Recently, Trump and Republican congressional candidates in Wisconsin have brought attention to a case involving a man linked to Tren De Aragua, a Venezuela-based criminal group, who allegedly assaulted a woman and attacked her daughter earlier this month.

In contrast to widely discredited assertions made by Trump and his ally, Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance, regarding Haitian migrants in Ohio, many of the Republicans’ claims about the Prairie du Chien incident are factually correct.

However, police indicated that the victim and the suspect were acquainted, which is often the case in sexual assault situations, and there have been no known interactions with other gang members. The suspect and victim had reportedly been living together and had been dating for three weeks, as per the criminal complaint.

Despite this, Republicans have made some misleading statements regarding the case, including claims that Madison police arrested and released the suspect in 2023. Both the Madison Police Department and Dane County Sheriff’s Office denied that he was ever in their custody.

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes stated that officers attempted to arrest him but he fled to Minnesota, where he was ultimately apprehended and later released. Madison detectives are reportedly collaborating with federal law enforcement to capture him again, Barnes explained.

Prairie du Chien Police Chief Kyle Teynor, who spoke before Trump took the stage, reiterated that there has been no contact with any other gang members in relation to this incident.

“Violence knows no nationality, it knows no immigration status, it knows no race and it knows no political affiliation,” Teynor stated, urging attendees to “use your voices in November.”

Teynor and Crawford County Sheriff Dale McCullick also addressed the challenges posed by fentanyl in the community, with McCullick supporting Trump’s policies on border control.

William Garcia, chair of the state Democratic Party for the 3rd Congressional District, criticized the Republicans for exploiting the assault case to sow division within the community.

“It is disappointing that Trump and Van Orden would depict Prairie du Chien as a place filled with crime and violence, which is simply not true. It’s a completely false narrative,” Garcia expressed.

Sexual Assault Is Widespread; Immigrants Are Not More Likely to Commit Crimes

According to Ian Henderson from the nonpartisan Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, sexual violence is a widespread issue, with victims and offenders “coming from all walks of life.”

Henderson stated, “Misleading narratives that suggest immigrants are more prone to committing sexual violence are not beneficial. Reinforcing unfounded myths or biases about sexual violence does not assist in addressing the issue.”

He also mentioned that promoting the “stranger myth” is counterproductive, emphasizing that “most victims are acquainted with the person who violated them.”

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports that roughly one in three women and one in five men in the state have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives.

A recent study from the National Institute of Justice, which utilized data from Texas—the only state documenting immigration status in criminal records—revealed that undocumented immigrants are arrested for violent and drug-related offenses at a rate less than half that of native-born U.S. citizens. This includes lower occurrences of assault and sexual assault.

Democrats Seek Advantage in the Tight Congressional Race in Western Wisconsin

Crawford County, home to Prairie du Chien, backed Trump with approximately 53% of the votes, compared to Biden’s 46% in the 2020 election. The competitive 3rd Congressional District, where Van Orden is up against Democratic candidate Rebecca Cooke, is located in the western part of the state.

Trump noted, “The Midwest has been incredibly influential for us, especially this region,” as he urged voters to participate in early voting.

Garcia mentioned that the district is significant for moderate and swing voters, indicating it is a place where perspectives can be shifted in western Wisconsin.

Cooke recently launched an advertisement presenting herself as a moderate candidate, asserting that she will “stand up to Democrats to advocate for a secure border.”

Garcia acknowledges hearing from voters with concerns about immigration, although these worries are often mixed with fears regarding the potential impact of losing undocumented workers who support Wisconsin’s dairy and agricultural industries.

He emphasized, “It’s strange to hear conversations about completely closing the border and deporting every undocumented person. Such actions would devastate Wisconsin’s economy.” He added that “Republicans have yet to propose a coherent plan that simultaneously addresses these issues.”

(This story has been updated for accuracy and may have had images or videos added.)

Resources for Support in Cases of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233.
• Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee offers a 24-hour confidential hotline at 414-933-2722.
• The Women’s Center in Waukesha operates a 24-hour hotline at 262-542-3828.
• We Are Here Milwaukee provides information on culturally specific organizations at weareheremke.org.
• End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has a statewide resource directory at endabusewi.org/get-help.