6 Latino Men Evicted From Duplex By Milwaukee County Sheriff Deputies Without Presenting Judicial Eviction Documents In The Southside Of Milwaukee

6 Latino men were left without a place to stay after they were evicted without prior notice from a duplex located in the Southside of Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 25, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, the Milwaukee County Sheriff deputies executed an eviction at a duplex located at 2818 W. Forest Home Ave. in the Southside of Milwaukee, which left 6 Latino men without a place to stay. According to Uriel López-Luz, who says that he owns the duplex, that he didn't received any prior noticed by the City of Milwaukee to vacate the building. The City of Milwaukee had taken over the property on November 2024. López-Luz told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that on October 2024, he went to City Hall to pay more than $28,000 of alleged deliquent taxes, but the City refused to take his payment or make arrangements to pay. Ever since, he has been challenging the City for taking over his property due to alleged delinquent taxes. (Video: https://youtu.be/6uu2QaIyG6k)

HNNUSA located the Order for Judgement that the City of Milwaukee posted in their website showing that the City Rem tax foreclosed on 270 parcels (properties) including the 264 parcel 2818 - 2820 W. Forest Home Ave. listed on page 14 document (case# 2024CV005730) that was electronically signed by Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge David Borowski on November 18, 2024 allowing the City to own 270 tax deliquent properties. The Order for Judgement indicated that no one attempted to redeem their tax deliquent properties by September 2024, but according to López-Luz, he attempted multiple times to pay his deliquent properties taxes, however the City Treasurer's Office wouldn't take his tax deliquent payments.

In-Rem-2024-3C---Order-for-Judgment.pdf https://share.google/dZsBzRxZYzPKTbsKR

The tax liens list that included property Parcel 264 (2818 - 2820 W. Forest Home Ave.) was filed under case # 2024CV005730 in the Milwaukee County Circuit Court by the City of Milwaukee on July 17, 2024, City of Milwaukee vs Tax Liens for 2024 Part 3, according to Milwaukee County court records.

In April 20, 2026, the City of Milwaukee and the City Department of Development  filed a small claims - eviction case# 2026SC010375 against López-Luz.

On the court hearing dated May 19, 2026, Attorney Joseph M. Dobbs was in court for City of Milwaukee c/o Dept. of City Development.  Attorney Joseph Seifert for Uriel Lopez Luz in court. Defendant Uriel Lopez Luz in court. Interpreter Christina Green in court. 

1st cause GRANTED - Judgment for plaintiff for restitution of premises.  Stay of writ of restitution ordered to 05/26/26. Rent and damages court hearing scheduled for August 25, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. in courtroom 400.

Milwaukee County court records on CCAP doesn't specifically indicate that an eviction against López-Luz was granted other than a judgement granted for the plaintiff for restitution of premises.

Also, the City tax property accessment website shows that the City of Milwaukee took ownership of the building on November 18, 2024 and doesn't provide a record of the prior history of ownership for the duplex (building).

The building at 2818 W. Forest Home Ave. in Milwaukee is valued at $164,600, according to City property records.

Several Milwaukee County deputies who were at the scene to serve the questionable eviction told HNNUSA that they didn't have any judicial legal documents (judge order) with them when asked for eviction documents approved by a county judge.

HNNUSA also asked a female City worker at the scene, if she had any legal judicial documents regarding Thursday's eviction and she replied that she didn't have any documents on her, which is unusual for a City employee to engage in an eviction including the deputies who also didn't have any legal judicial documents regarding the López-Luz eviction.

López-Luz also stated when he asked for legal judicial eviction documents from the deputies and the City worker, they told him they had no documents.

López-Luz and individuals living at the duplex had an hour to vacate the duplex.

An orange eviction notice by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office was posted on the duplex front door including a sign saying that the property belongs to the City and prohibits any trespassing.

The question remains, why didn't the City Treasurer's Office accept tax deliquent payments from López-Luz in 2024?

En Español:

Seis hombres latinos se quedaron sin alojamiento tras ser desalojados sin previo aviso de un dúplex situado en la zona sur de Milwaukee.

Por H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

25 de junio de 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – El jueves, agentes de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Milwaukee llevaron a cabo un desalojo en un dúplex ubicado en el 2818 de W. Forest Home Ave., en la zona sur de Milwaukee, dejando a seis hombres latinos sin lugar donde alojarse. Según Uriel López-Luz, quien afirma ser el propietario del dúplex, no recibió ningún aviso previo por parte de la ciudad de Milwaukee para desocupar el edificio. La ciudad de Milwaukee había tomado posesión de la propiedad en noviembre de 2024. López-Luz declaró a Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) que, en octubre de 2024, acudió al Ayuntamiento para pagar más de $28,000 dólares en concepto de supuestos impuestos atrasados, pero la ciudad se negó a aceptar el pago o a establecer acuerdos de pago. Desde entonces, ha estado impugnando la decisión de la ciudad de apropiarse de su propiedad debido a dichos impuestos pendientes. (Video: https://youtu.be/6uu2QaIyG6k)

HNNUSA localizó la orden judicial publicada por la ciudad de Milwaukee en su sitio web, la cual indica que la ciudad ejecutó la ejecución hipotecaria fiscal sobre 270 parcelas (propiedades)—incluida la parcela 264 ubicada en el 2818-2820 de W. Forest Home Ave., que figura en la página 14 del documento (caso n.º 2024CV005730). Dicha orden, firmada electrónicamente el 18 de noviembre de 2024 por el juez David Borowski del Tribunal de Circuito del Condado de Milwaukee, autoriza a la ciudad a tomar posesión de estas 270 propiedades con impuestos impagados. Aunque la orden judicial señalaba que nadie había intentado recuperar sus propiedades con deudas fiscales antes de septiembre de 2024, López-Luz afirma haber intentado pagar los impuestos atrasados ​​en múltiples ocasiones; sin embargo, la Oficina del Tesorero de la ciudad se negó a aceptar los pagos correspondientes a dichas deudas.

Orden del juez: In-Rem-2024-3C---Order-for-Judgment.pdf https://share.google/dZsBzRxZYzPKTbsKR

La lista de gravámenes fiscales que incluía la parcela de propiedad n.º 264 (2818 - 2820 W. Forest Home Ave.) fue presentada por la Ciudad de Milwaukee el 17 de julio de 2024 ante el Tribunal de Circuito del Condado de Milwaukee bajo el número de caso 2024CV005730 (Ciudad de Milwaukee contra Gravámenes Fiscales de 2024, Parte 3), según los registros judiciales del Condado de Milwaukee.

En la audiencia judicial del 19 de mayo de 2026, el abogado Joseph M. Dobbs compareció en representación de la Ciudad de Milwaukee (a/c del Departamento de Desarrollo Urbano). El abogado Joseph Seifert compareció en representación de Uriel López Luz. El demandado Uriel López Luz estuvo presente. La intérprete Christina Green estuvo presente.

Primera causa: APROBADA. Se dictó sentencia a favor de la parte demandante para la restitución del inmueble. Se ordenó la suspensión de la ejecución de la orden de restitución hasta el 26 de mayo de 2026.

La audiencia sobre alquileres y daños y perjuicios se programó para el 25 de agosto de 2026 a las 3:00 p.m..

Los registros judiciales del condado de Milwaukee en el sistema CCAP no indican específicamente que se haya autorizado un desalojo contra López-Luz, más allá de la sentencia dictada a favor de la parte demandante para la restitución del inmueble.

Asimismo, el sitio web de tasación de impuestos sobre la propiedad de la ciudad indica que la ciudad de Milwaukee asumió la titularidad del edificio el 18 de noviembre de 2024, pero no ofrece registros del historial de propiedad anterior de dicho dúplex.

El edificio ubicado en el 2818 de W. Forest Home Ave., en Milwaukee, está valorado en $164,600 dólares, según los registros de propiedad de la ciudad.

Varios agentes del condado de Milwaukee presentes en el lugar para llevar a cabo el cuestionable desalojo declararon a HNNUSA que no portaban documentación judicial (orden de un juez) cuando se les solicitó la documentación del desalojo aprobada por un juez del condado.

HNNUSA también preguntó a una empleada municipal presente en el lugar si disponía de documentos judiciales relativos al desalojo del jueves; ella respondió que no llevaba consigo ninguna documentación, lo cual resulta inusual para un empleado municipal que participa en un desalojo, al igual que en el caso de los ayudantes del sheriff, quienes tampoco contaban con documentos judiciales sobre el desalojo de López-Luz.

López-Luz también declaró que, al solicitar a los ayudantes del sheriff y a la empleada municipal la documentación judicial del desalojo, le informaron que no disponían de ningún documento.

López-Luz y las personas que residían en el dúplex dispusieron de una hora para desalojar la vivienda.

En la puerta principal del dúplex se colocó una notificación de desalojo de color naranja, emitida por la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Milwaukee, acompañada de un letrero que indicaba que la propiedad pertenece a la Ciudad y prohibía el acceso no autorizado.

Queda pendiente la pregunta: ¿por qué la Oficina del Tesorero Municipal no aceptó los pagos de impuestos atrasados ​​de López-Luz en 2024?

Security Guard Daniel Boone, 37, Fatally Shot Outside Fiesta Carambola Pool Hall In The Southside Of Milwaukee

Boone was shot in the back of the head by a suspect(s) after refusing to let multiple armed men from entering Fiesta Carambola Pool Hall, according to social media sources.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 24, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, the Fiesta Carambola Pool Hall located at 1910 W. Becher Street remains closed after Daniel Boone, 37, aka, "Cino Bigupps", a security guard for the pool hall was shot multiple times striking him in the back of the head on early June 18, 2026, after refusing to let armed suspect(s) enter the pool hall. Milwaukee police responded to the location after shots fired were reported around 12:35 a.m. at the pool hall location. Police located Boone critically wounded by gunshots outside of the pool hall and was conveyed to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his gunshot injuries.

The Fiesta Carambola Pool Hall has indoor and outside video surveillance cameras, which police reviewed in an attempt to identify the suspect(s) in connection with Boone's shooting death. 

Milwaukee police hasn't confirmed, if any suspect(s) have been taken into custody.

As of Tuesday, the Fiesta Carambola Pool Hall remained closed during the FIFA sports events.

42-year-old Diana Socha Torres And Her 8-year-old Son From Colombia Taken Into Custody By USICE In Wisconsin Dells, Processed In Milwaukee And Then Transported To A Texas USICE Facility

Socha Torres was wearing a USICE ankle monitor when she was taken into custody in Wisconsin Dells on a hold and deportation order for failing to attend an asylum immigration court routine hearing with her son.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 23, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, Voces de la Frontera and allies held an impromptu emergency press conference in front of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (USICE) facility at 310 E. Knapp Street in Milwaukee to confirm that Diana Socha Torres, 42, and her 8-year-old son who are asylum seekers from Colombia were taken into custody around 7:00 a.m. by the USICE on Tuesday morning on a immigration hold and deportation order for failing to attend a routine asylum court hearing. According to Christine Neumann-Ortiz, the executive director of Voces de la Frontera in Milwaukee, Socha Torres was wearing an ankle USICE monitor when she was taken into custody by immigration enforcement agents.

Socha Torres and her partner (Fred) have been together for 20 years, lived in Wisconsin Dells for three years, and she along with her son had applied for asylum two years ago. Sosha Torres claimed in her asylum application that she was fleeing from terrorism, violence and economic instability in Colombia.

According to Socha Torres, she never received any notification from USICE in regards to a scheduled asylum immigration court hearing, which USICE allegedly claimed that she failed to appear with her son.

Socha Torres's attorney apparently filed an appeal in her case in May 2026 after USICE entered (filed) a deportation order on April 27,  but USICE says, that they have no record filed for an appeal in their USICE system.

USICE processed both Socha Torres and her son detention in Milwaukee and was later transported to Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas, a USICE detention facility on Tuesday.

Socha Torres and her 8-year-old son are no longer in Wisconsin.

Texas USICE detention facilities are known to operate with illegal inhumane conditions that include unhealthy food and conditions in order to coerced undocumented detainees to voluntarily sign documents for self-deport. 

The detention immigration private prisons are operated by GEO Group and CoreCivic, also Akima Global Services under contracts with the federal government provide guard and security services at various USDHS and USICE detention centers and operations of facilities.

So far through June, 19 undocumented detainees have died while being held in USICE detention facilities in the country in 2026 compared to 33 deaths reported in 2025. Many of the reported deaths have been ruled as homicides. 

In June 2026, USDHS announced, that it will no longer report the deaths of former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees who pass away within 30 days of their release from federal custody, according  to CNN. But, USDHS will continue to report deaths that occur while an individual is physically inside a detention center, according to NBC News.

In January 2026, Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) reported that 84 undocumented immigrants were detained by USICE-CBP, according to the Worst of the Worst (WOW) website.

USDHS WOW website link https://www.dhs.gov/wow

For the State of Wisconsin in January 2026, it showed that more than 84 alleged undocumented individuals were being detained by USICE-CBP.

In Wisconsin, according to the WOW website, USICE has been operating in the following cities, towns and villages in Wisconsin.

The following data shows places in Wisconsin where USICE is active and the number of detainees arrested through January 2026.

Ashland (3), Hudson, River Falls, New Richmond, Baldwin, Woodinville, Sheboygan (3), Waukesha (4), Kenosha (6), Sturtevant (18), Racine (1), Wisconsin Rapids (1), Green Bay (1), Elkhorn (1), West Bend (1), Madison (1), Oxford (54), Milwaukee (8), Barron (1), White Water (1), Fond Du Lac (3), Wausau (2), Manitowoc (2), Baraboo (1), Superior (2), Appleton (1), Port Washington (1), Stanley (2), Eau Claire (1), Janesville (1) and Slinger (1).

Unconfirmed estimates by HNNUSA, indicate that in the last six months that more than 25 undocumented immigrants have been detained by USICE-CBP in Wisconsin. The number of undocumented immigrants detained in Wisconsin could be higher, since USICE doesn't report every arrest of undocumented immigrants in the state. Also, detainee's acquaintances or family members don't usually report that their relatives or friends have been detained by USICE.

So far, the State of Florida undocumented immigrant detention facility operated as Alligator Alcatraz has been closed, despite hundreds of undocumented immigrants that were held at the detention facility have disappeared without trace or record.

On Tuesday, a federal appeals court allowed the Trump administration to move forward with an effort to expand fast-track deportations throughout the U.S., in a legal win for the president's crackdown on illegal immigration.

The 2-1 decision by a panel of judges at the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia Circuit allows the Department of Homeland Security to carry out an expansion of the expedited removal process, which empowers federal immigration officials to deport some detainees without court hearings, CBS News reported.

Another federal judge has also prohibited USICE to detain individuals outside immigration court hearings.

The USICE Public Affairs Office released the following statement:

Diana Briyith Socha-Torres, an illegal alien from Colombia, illegally entered the United States via the southern border on August 6, 2024. Under the Biden Administration, she was RELEASED into the country, unvetted. On April 27, 2026, an immigration judge issued her a final order of removal due to her failure to show up to her mandatory immigration hearing. She chose to bring her child with her back to Colombia. They will remain together.

ICE does not separate families. Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates. This is consistent with past administrations’ immigration enforcement.

Being in detention is a choice. Parents can take control of their departure with the CBP Home app and reserve the chance to come back the right legal way. The United States is offering illegal aliens $2,600 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.

MATC Public Budget Hearing Shows A $2.5M Deficit For FY 2027 Under President Anthony Cruz, Also, Mostly Part-time Instructors Will Operate Teaching System In 2027

Milwaukee Area Technical College Facing A $2.5M Deficit For 2027

Public Hearing Presentation Of Proposed MATC FY 2027 (June 16, 2026) Budget https://www.youtube.com/live/e7LHiCaU42U

• MATC deficit under Milwaukee Area Technical College President Dr. Anthony Cruz more than doubled from previous predecessor (former MATC President Vickie J. Martin) in 2023 with $1.1M to today under Dr. Cruz at $2.8M in 2026 to an expected deficit of $2.5M in fiscal year 2027.

• Student enrollment at MATC has declined, in several years in 2009-2010 to 2010-2011, MATC had nearly 15,000 full-time equivalent student (FTE) enrollment, compared to date in 2026, 9,200 FTE enrollment.

• A 2% student tuition increase for certificate degree and a 3% increase for an associate degree in 2027 has been approved 

• MATC has a current $80.7M outstanding debt through June 30, 2026

• MATC will operate in 2027 with mostly part-time instructors, according to the budget hearing.

• MATC will also target 108 employees, especially full-time instructors for early retirement or no contract renewal in order to offset the pending deficit for FY 2027

• Elimination of the Office of Multicultural Student Services, and unjustly terminating 4 student services specialists affecting Latino/Hispanic, African-American, Asian-American and Native-American students including communities without their imput, in order to comply with Trump's illegal and unconstitutional executive order eliminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) race related programs, which multiple federal courts have ruled it was unconstitutional.

• MATC facing multiple employees discrimination complaints with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Equal Rights Division.

• MATC administration under Dr. Cruz has proliferated its hostile work environment including the practice of harassment, discrimination and retaliation against employees and instructors that file complaints or just complain.

• MATC cutting employee wages, but are being forced to work more without wage compensation.

• MATC has an all White male administration who are paid excessive wages, for example, Dr. Cruz gets $285,000 in salary per year with extras perks, eventhough, he has more than doubled the MATC deficit, since 2024.

• MATC President Cruz has ignored the communities of color demands to restore the Office of Multicultural Student Services, and has also failed to provide any particular reason why he continues to ignore the communities of color requests who actually pay his salary.

• MATC Human Resources led by Laquitha “Elle” Bonds-Jones, the Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer under Dr. Cruz cut part-time employees hourly wages without their knowledge and also reduced their sick leave pay. Part-time employees had to be compensated back pay wages and earned sick leave fully pay restored. Also, Bonds-Jones was eventually caught altering MATC policies without the knowledge of the MATC Board of Trustees or the MATC Local 212 union. Dr. Cruz has declined to terminate Bonds-Jones for her alleged misdeeds at the technical college.

• Student enrollment stats intentionally inflated, despite student enrollment decline between 2025 to 2026, according to discovery made by MATC Board of Trustees who learned that misinformation was being provided to them at the April 28, 2026 Board meeting. Presentation by Phillip King, the Executive Vice-President and Provost showed an enrollment decline from 2025 to 2026, but enrollment stats were inaccurately inflated, which multiple MATC Board members criticized Phillip for providing inaccurate student enrollment stats. (MATC Board meeting video time at 2:20:00 minute to 2:50:00 minutes stamp)

• MATC Board of Trustees meeting for Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the first 42 minutes of the meeting were public comments by 11 instructors, students and the MATC Local 212 union regarding their concerns and issues they are facing at MATC under Dr. Cruz's administration, at link: https://www.youtube.com/live/--C91QsctXM

• In less than 2 years at MATC, Dr. Cruz has continuously shown lack of leadership including his lack of ability to resolve major plaguing issues at the technical college, which so far, the inept Board of Trustees have failed to take any action to hold Dr. Cruz accountable.

MATC District Board Meeting: Faculty Raise Serious Concerns — AFT Local 212 https://share.google/ZW1kqIaJGjDePQuIx

Protests at MATC (October 28, 2025): https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1JbKnLLzAh/

Full HNNUSA article: ESL Program On The Chopping Block, Instructors Say MATC Going Backwards Under President Dr. Anthony Cruz, Also Technical College Facing $2.5M Deficit For Fiscal Year 2027 (April 28, 2026) https://tinyurl.com/zy8jz5k5

HNNUSA full article at link: Insight MATC: Lack Of Leadership And Efficiency By President Dr. Anthony Cruz, Technical College Facing Layoffs, Job Eliminations, And Possible Administrative Non-contract Renewals To Offset $2.5M Deficit In 2027 (May 21, 2026) https://tinyurl.com/4snzv3pa

Posted on June 18, 2026

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

Tribute To The Late Luis Rodolfo López, 1st Bilingual Teacher At South Division High School And Milwaukee Public Schools In The Late 1960's To Early 1970's

Celebrating the Life Of Maestro Luis Rodolfo López at South Division High School in Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 14, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Saturday, June 13, 2026, members of the Luis Rodolfo López family, friends, South Division High School students (alumni) and MPS Bilingual staff and instructors attended the memorial and life celebration of Maestro López at South Division High School.

Dr. Jóse Trejo, Principal at South Division High School welcomed everyone in attendance, and Alondra García and Gloria González made their presentations in regards to the accomplishments of Maestro López.

Thanks to both Wisconsin State Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milw) and Wisconsin State Senator Tim Carpenter(D-Milw) for issuing a State citation recognizing the late Luis Rodolfo López for his accomplishments as the First bilingual teacher at South Division High, Milwaukee Public Schools and Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Association for Bilingual Education (WIABE) sponsored the food and Mariachi tribute performance for the late Luis Rodolfo López at South Division High School.

Mariachi Mexico Internacional performed at the memorial event.

Maestro López was the 1st Bilingual teacher at South Division High, Milwaukee Public Schools and the State of Wisconsin in the late 1960's to early 1970's.

Presentation at link: https://youtu.be/fJWHt5yvP8A

Full video of the Luis R. López' Celebration of Life: https://youtu.be/FFVDGoqgB-s

HNNUSA article: https://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2026/04/luis-rodolfo-lopez-1st-bilingual.html

Photo collection (Facebook) at link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18XJwNg7tw/

27-year-old Clarissa Morales Found Deceased With A Gunshot Wound At S. 22 And W. Maple Streets In The Southside Of Milwaukee

Morales was found shot inside a vehicle at S. 22 St. and W. Maple Street in the Southside of Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 9, 2026

WI: On Saturday, June 6, 2026, around 4:56 p.m., Milwaukee police responded to S. 22 Street and W. Maple Street to an apparent shooting where they located Clarissa Morales, 27, inside a vehicle with a gunshot fatal wound. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office was called to the scene. Morales was declared deceased at the scene.

According to a preliminary investigation, residents from nearby the scene discoverd Morales' body inside a vehicle with blood coming out of her mouth, and a handgun in her leg.

Police are reviewing an outdoor video surveillance camera by the scene to determine what happened. So far, Police haven't released any information, if the Morales death involved foul play.

Morales is survived by two young children.

Annual Impromptu Puerto Rico Flag Cruising In the Southside Of Milwaukee Turned Chaotic By Street Takeovers Along W. Historic Mitchell Street, S. 14 And W. Forest Home Ave., According To Police

Multiple individuals were taken into custody and vehicles towed during the annual impromptu Puerto Rico flag cruising in the Southside of Milwaukee, which turned chaotic as usual, resulting in multiple illegal street takeovers.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 8, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Sunday, June 7, 2026, around 5:53 p.m. Milwaukee police began to close congested streets that were taken over by unruly drivers and pedestrians during the annual impromptu Puerto Rico flag cruising, which caused a chaotic scene that involved burnouts, traffic stops, police pursuits, public intoxication, individuals including men and women hanging out or seating on open vehicle windows and not wearing seatbelts as they drove down the street and a proliferation of reckless driving by vehicles and mini-bikes.

Also, a fight broke out at the 1200 block of W. Historic Mitchell Street between females while an individual in a sports bike was doing donuts and burnouts.

Multiple vehicles were stopped and towed, and multiple individuals were also taken into custody.

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) was able to create a collage of Facebook screenshots that media and users posted on social media to see the melee and chaotic street takeovers by individuals displaying the Puerto Rico flag on their vehicles or in their person.

Many of those involved say, that they were just celebrating their culture, but the Puerto Rican culture doesn't have a history of individuals disrespecting their national pride by engaging in lawless and chaotic behavior causing havoc in our predominately Latino community.

In prior years, impromptu Puerto Rico flag cruising had resulted in killings and shootings involving members of the Puerto Rican community.

On Sunday, the Fiesta Puerto Rico 2026 took place at Humboldt Park without any incidents reported by police. The difference between the impromptu Puerto Rico flag cruising and the Fiesta Puerto Rico 2026 is that Fiesta Puerto Rico had a permit to operate legally with security and a safe environment, which the impromptu Puerto Rico flag cruising is unorganized and can very quickly turn chaotic making unsafe for the spectators including  children at the scene.

So far, police haven't reported, if anyone had been shot by W. Historic Mitchell Street, but it's the first time that HNNUSA noticed a Milwaukee police officer carrying an assault rifle at S. 14 Street and W. Forest Home Ave. By the Burger King parking lot.

Did Puerto Ricans posed a threat to Milwaukee police officers, that an officer had to display an assault rifle?

According to police, they were able to finally clear major congested traffic blockages in the Southside and civilian crowds from the W. Historic Mitchell Street area from S. 7 to S. 16 Streets extending from W. Lapham Blvd., W. Forest Home Ave. and to W. Burnham Street by 10:00 p.m. on Sunday night.

Update: According to spectators who want to stay anonymous, police detained one individual driving a black vehicle who was accelerating inside the Burger King parking lot at the 1400 block of W. Forest Home  Ave., and a second man wearing a blue shirt who was recording the arrest. The second man told police officers that they were violating the driver's rights, but police immediately took the man wearing a blue shirt into custody and handcuffed him. The man also suffered an injury to his mouth and lip that caused him to bleed, according to spectators at the scene. Some of the spectators say, that no one at the scene were aggressive against the police and no one was a threat to police, for a Milwaukee police officer to be carrying an assault rifle in the Burger King parking lot. 

Milwaukee police from the 2nd Milwaukee Police District Station hasn't released any information to justify an officer carrying an assault rifle at the Burger King parking lot. But, police have confirmed at least one person was taken into custody during the impromptu Puerto Rico flag cruising by W. Historic Mitchell Street business corridor.

Milwaukee police say that one person was taken into custody, they issued 9 citations and 5 vehicles were towed on Sunday in the Southside of Milwaukee during the impromptu Puerto Rico flag cruising chaotic melee by W. Historic Mitchell Street business district corridor.

Emergency Life Ring Stations Installed At City of Milwaukee Bridge Crossings Along The Milwaukee River

Life preservers installed at City of Milwaukee bridge crossings along the Milwaukee River 

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 4, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) reported in October 2024 that there were no life preservers (floaters) along the 3 1/2 miles of the Milwaukee River Walk along the river. (HNNUSA Article link: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-city-of-milwaukee-has-no-life.html)

HNNUSA noticed that the City of Milwaukee has installed Emergency Life Ring Stations (life preservers) at downtown bridges.

The Late Vocalist And Percussionist Player Cecilio Jóse Negrón Jr. To Be Featured In Mural At The Art Intersection Outdoor Gallery In Milwaukee's Near West Side Neighborhood

Mural showing Negrón Jr. playing the congas will be among 10 canvass art murals to be displayed next week at the Art Intersection Outdoor Gallery, and 6 additional murals will be added at a later date at the outdoor gallery.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 3, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Wednesday, Derrick Cainion, the Founder and curator for the Art Intersection Outdoor MKE organization confirmed to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that next week, at least 10 art mural canvases (painted in polytab mural cloths) will be installed at the Art Intersection Outdoor Gallery located at N. 35 Street and W. Vliet Street in the Near West Side neighborhood in Milwaukee. One of those canvas murals will include the late vocalist, conga and percussionist player Cecilio Jóse Negrón Jr., 47, who past away in May 2023. According to the Milwaukee Medical Examiner's Office report, Negrón Jr. died of natural causes citing cause of death "Acute Mayocardial Infarct" due to acute coronary artery thrombus and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Negrón Jr. was well known for his love of drums, Latin Jazz and Salsa music. He was the charismatic co-founder percussionist/vocalist for the band De La Buena and on occassion played the Guiro (serrated gourd and played by scraping a stick along its surface) and Bongos (one of a pair of small tuned drums, played by beating with the fingers) along side with his father Cecilio J. Negrón, 73, at local events, who is also a well known local percussionist with the band Caché MKE.

Also in the Negrón Jr. canvas mural, other Latinos and Latinas will be featured by artist Rozalia Hernández-Singh.

A remembrance gathering for Negrón Jr. is scheduled for June 17, 2026 at 3542 W. Vliet Street from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Art Intersection Outdoor Gallery in Milwaukee.

Vacant Dr. Filiberto And Carmen Murguia School Campus Building In The Southside Demolished

The Dr. Filiberto and Carmen Murguia vacant school campus has been demolished at the 1600 S. 36 Street, according to City of Milwaukee records.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 1, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - According to City of Milwaukee property assessment records, the vacant Dr. Filiberto and Carmen Murguia Campus (previously a charter school) property was bought by the United Community Center (UCC) in 2023 for $1,300,000, and in March of 2026, both the UCC and D&H Demolition applied for a permit to raze the school and day care vacant building. It has taken at least 3 months to completely demolished the condemned building.

The UCC has not announced any major development project for the property at the 1600 block of S. 36 Street (formerly the Dr. Filiberto and Carmen Murguia Campus) in the Southside.

The campus building had previous owners, in 2010, the Centro Hispano (Council for the Spanish Speaking Inc. - also known as the Spanish Center) renamed the school building as the Filiberto and Carmen Murguia Campus after its former Director Filiberto Murguia, 78, retired. (HNNUSA article link: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2010/10/spanish-center-renames-high-school.html)

In 2003, when Dr. Murguia retired from the Centro Hispano, he left a $5,000,000 operating budget. But by 2015 to 2017, when Toni Rivera-Joachin was the executive director, the Centro Hispano lost several major federal funding sources, which led to laying off more than 88 employees, which the Centro Hispano would never recover and it eventually closed operations. (HNNUSA article link: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-dr-filiberto-carmen-murguia-campus.html)

Another unfortunate situation where a community as a whole allows a non-profit organization to eventually cease to exist and the loss of community services become a thing of the past, which tragically affects the community it served.

The end of the Dr. Filiberto and Carmen Murguia legacy was inevitable due to those that followed failed to maintain federal funding sources to keep the Centro Hispano and its services afloat.

Sign of the times!

Highly Populated Latino Communities In Waukegan And North Chicago Concerned Over Proliferation Of Illegal MAGA, USICE And Green Alien Target Posters

Local Latino communities in Waukegan and North Chicago concerned over proliferation of illegal MAGA, USICE and green alien target posters.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 31, 2026

Illinois - Both Waukegan and North Chicago public officials including community members are asking residents to report any door or outdoor camera surveillance videos that might have captured an individual(s) posting on trees and utility poles with tape what they say are threatening MAGA (Make Amerikkka Great Again), USICE and a green alien with a target posters (signs) throughout these highly populated Latino communities.

In a press conference in Waukegan today, Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham confirmed that it's illegal to post signs in utility poles and advised the community to report any illegal posted signs to the City public works in order to remove them. (Press conference video by Julie Contreras at Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DJr74zetH/)

According to Latino community members, the signs in question began to pop up about a week ago, and community members now want for local authorities and federal authorities to investigate what they say are racist, hate and threatening acts target at Latino communities  in Waukegan and North Chicago. (Report by Michelle Gallardo, ABC7 at Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CUfs8nza9/)

Just recently the White House announced that Aliens.gov federal website was created, which allegedly depicts immigrants of color as invading aliens. (Website link: Aliens – The White House https://share.google/23iO0N5FSsLIh55bS)

The National LULAC has also recently condemned the Alien.gov federal website as "dehumanizing", allegedly targeting immigrants with MAGA racist and hate propaganda. LULAC Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CuBqxYNnD/)

Update: On June 3, 2026, an individual(s) began to post similar alien posters (flyers) in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Residents in Kenosha reported the racist MAGA alien posters with targets to local authorities, according to Kenosha police.

18-year-old Joseph Prado Sentenced To 45 Years In Prison For The Easter Day 2025 Homicide Of Donell Jones, 17, In Milwaukee

Prado sentenced to 45 years in prison, with 25 years confinement and 20 years supervision for the Jones homicide.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 29, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Friday, Joseph Prado, 18, was sentenced to 45 years in prison, with 25 years confinement and 20 years supervision for the Easter Day 2025 homicide of Donell Jones, 17, in Milwaukee.

In March, Prado pleaded guilty in the criminal case to felony murder-armed robbery, he was sentenced on Friday to 35 years in prison with 20 years confinement and 15 years supervision, in addition, he was also sentenced to 10 years in prison with 5 years confinement and 5 years supervision for possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent juvenile. Both sentences to be served consecutively (separate).

The criminal complaint says, that Prado and a friend had left a party on Easter morning near W. Townsend Street and N. 23 Street when they saw another individual who his friend had issues with and they confronted him.

Prado decided to rob one of the individuals that they stopped and apparently fired his weapon after hearing gunshots. Jones was critically injured by gunfire and later died at a local hospital, and another 20-year-old victim was injured by gunfire and survived, according to police.

Wanted USICE Agent Christian Castro, 52, Arrested In Texas, He Was Criminally Charged In Minnesota For Lying And Shooting Venezuelan Victim

Castro, a USICE agent was criminally in Hennepin County in Minnesota for lying after shooting a Venezuelan man in January.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 29, 2026

Harlingen, Texas - On Friday, Christian Castro, 52, was taken into custody around 9:30 a.m. at the 3700 block of Sun Chase Drive in Harlingen by Texas Rangers, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators and U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents in Cameron County. Castro, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (USICE) agent was criminally charged in Hennepin County in Minneapolis, Minnesota for assault (shooting a suspected Venezuelan immigrant) and then filing a false crime report against Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, who was shot in the thigh by Castro on January 14, 2026. Castro and another USICE agent were chasing Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna into an apartment building and Castro fired at Aljorna, but instead struck Sosa-Celis in the thigh.

A $200,000 cash bail was set for Castro. Castro will now face the process of extradition to Minnesota, in order to face criminal charges.

The Hennepin County District Attorney's Office says, that Castro was charged earlier this month with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime for an incident on Jan. 14, 2026, when he discharged his weapon through the front door of a home knowing there were people who had just run inside.

Castro and the other USICE agent lied in a crime report saying they were attacked by Sosa-Celis and Aljorna, which a security camera surveillance video from a nearby location captured the shooting contradicting Castro's claims.

The Hennepin County District Attorney's Office issued a felony warrant for the arrest of Castro.

Castro is the second USICE agent to be criminally charged in Hennepin County, Minnesota during the Operation Metro Surge immigration enforcement operations conducted by the MAGA (Make Amerikkka Great Again) USICE.

USICE is known as the most corrupt immigration enforcement agency in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (Article link: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2026/01/milwaukee-fbi-confirmed-that-agents.html)

In an unrelated criminal case in Minneapolis, USICE agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, was criminally charged for reckless driving in a freeway and pointing his service weapon at two victims. (Article link: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2026/05/wanted-usice-agent-gregory-donnell.html)

32-year-old Javier C. Rivera-Diaz Fatally Shot In The Southside Of Milwaukee By Clarke Square Park, Police Searching For Suspect(s)

Rivera-Diaz was fatally shot by a Southside Milwaukee  County park.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 29, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, Milwaukee police responded around 10:31 p.m. to shots fired at the 1000 block of S. 24 Street, by Clarke Square Park and located Javier C. Rivera-Diaz, 32, with multiple gunshot wounds including one in the forehead. 

Rivera-Diaz was pronounced deceased at the scene after life-saving measures were unsuccessful, according to police.

Police are reviewing any available door camera surveillance videos in the area in an attempt to identify the suspect(s) in connection with Rivera-Diaz's homicide.

Wisconsin Court Of Appeals District 1 Reaffirmed Lower Courts Decision To Dismissed The Estate Of Luis Lorenzo Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Defendants El Rey Enterprises LLP/LLC, And Marshall Public Safety LLC

A three judge panel in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District 1 decided in June 2025 to reaffirmed the lower courts decision to dismiss the Luis Lorenzo wrongful death civil lawsuits against El Rey Enterprises LLP and other parties including Marshall Public Safety LLC.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. 

May 28, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - In June 10, 2025, a three penal judge for the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in District 1, Chief Judge Maxine A. White, Presiding Judge M. Joseph Donald and Judge Pedro  Colón ruled that the Estate of Luis Lorenzo by Special Administrator Wanda Rodriguez (Plaintiff-Appellant) in the Luis Lorenzo wrongful death civil lawsuit case filed against (lntervenor-Defendant-Respondent) Kinsale Insurance Company, El Rey Enterprises LLP, El Rey Enterprises II LLC, Marshall Public Safety (MPS), LLC, and Enoch Wilson failed to establish that El Rey or one of their employees were negligent in causing the death of Lorenzo in July 9, 2022 and El Rey Enterprises were not viscariously liable for Lorenzo's injuries and death. The case was dismissed by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, which also led to the dismissal of the multiple Milwaukee County civil lawsuit cases claiming wrongful death by the Estate of Luis Lorenzo against Marshall Public Safety, LLC and its owner Enoch Wilson.

Wilson, the owner and operator of Marshall Public Safety, LLC is a El Rey's independent cobtractor. The three judge Appeals Court panel agreed "that the Estate's claim for negligent supervision fails on multiple grounds. MPS was El Rey's independent contractor, not its employee, servant or agent within the negligent supervision analysis. Id. at 265. Further, assuming without deciding that employment status was not controlling, the Estate has not shown that El Rey's negligence was the cause-in-fact of Lorenzo's injuries and death. See id. at 262. Therefore, it has not raised a genuine issue of material fact with regard to causation that would preclude summary judgment. Petzel, 320 Wis. 2d 621, ¶5."

Wisconsin Court of Appeals case, (full decision): Estate of Luis Lorenzo, by Special Administrator Wanda Rodriguez, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Kinsale Insurance Company, Intervenor-Defendant-Respondent. (2025) | FindLaw https://share.google/zMRB6MXbS4EQafZga

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) article link: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/10/el-rey-supermarket-and-marshal-public.html

Lorenzo family press conference (July 20, 2022): https://youtu.be/IVVMPNIizAo

60-year-old Leonel Molina-Rios Sentenced To 12 Years in Prison For The November 2024 Vehicular Homicide Of James Charles Riegling, 74, In Franklin

Molina-Rios was sentenced to 12 years in prison under a plea agreement, once he completes his sentenced in Wisconsin, he will be subject for deportation to Mexico.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 22, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Friday, Leonel "Leo" Molina-Rios, 60, was sentenced to 12 years in prison with 6 years of supervision (total 18 years) for the November  2, 2024 homicide by use of vehicle with PAC (prohibited alcohol concentration) in the death of James Charles Riegling, 74, in Franklin. Under the plea agreement with prosecutors, several felony charges were dropped against Molina-Rios, but were read in the sentencing hearing.

Molina-Rios was facing up to 25 years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines, or both.

According to the criminal complaint, Molina-Rios of Greenfield was initially charged in Milwaukee County for homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and knownly operate a vehicle without a license causing the death of a 74-year-old male victim in a two vehicle crash on November 2, 2024 in Franklin.

Molina-Rios as a undocumented convicted felon is facing deportation once he completes his sentence. Molina-Rios will be subject to be deported to Mexico.

Molina-Rios is well known in the Milwaukee Latino community for being a popular Spanish Speaking radio personality and a former member of the Wisconsin Brown Berets.

Update: On June 2, 2026, the Franklin Common Council voted to suspend the liquor license of the Irish Cottage for 30 days from  September  1, 2026. A bartender from the bar served multiple drinks and beers to Leonel Molina-Rios who on November  2, 2024 then drove while intoxicated after leaving the bar and crashed into James Charlie Riegling killing him and his dog Posey.

Molina-Rios had .212 (blood alcohol content) when he was arrested and treated for injuries.

Wanted U.S.ICE Agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, Turned Himself To Hennepin County Authorities In Minneapolis, MN

USICE agent Morgan Jr. was wanted for illegally aiming his service weapon at two victims while driving erratically on the freeway.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 22, 2026

Minneapolis, Minnesota - On Thursday, May 21, 2026, wanted MAGA (Make Amerikkka Great Again) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, turned himself to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A Hennepin County judge during an initial court hearing on Thursday prohibited Morgan Jr. from having a gun and leaving the country while the case proceeds. Morgan's bail was set at $100,000.

Morgan Jr. became the first USICE agent to be criminally charged in Minnesota for aiming a weapon at two victims while driving erratically on the freeway.

The Hennepin County criminal complaint in Minnesota was filed on April 16, 2026 against USICE agent Morgan Jr., who has been criminally charged with two state felony counts for 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. USICE agent Morgan is facing up to 7 years in prison and $4,000 to $14,000 in fines for each count, or both, if convicted on all counts.

24-year-old Christian Abdon Correa Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison For 17-year-old Girlfriend Stabbing Related Criminal Charges In Franklin

Correa under a plea agreement with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to multiple amended felony charges resulting in a 30 year sentence in prison.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 22, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, Christian Abdon Correa, 24, of Franklin was sentenced to 30 years in prison for felony mayhem, which the following amended felony charges were dismissed under a plea agreement with prosecutors, but the felony charges were read in the sentencing hearing. The two dismissed charges included physical abuse of a child intentionally causing harm and strangulation and suffocation including habitual criminality repeater. Correa must serve 20 years in prison and 10 years of supervision, according to Milwaukee County court records.

Correa was previously charged for the October 27, 2023 stabbing incident of his 17-year-old girlfriend in Franklin, Wisconsin. Correa was criminally charged in 2023 for attempted 1st-degree intentional homicide with habitual criminality repeater and use of dangerous weapon; strangulation and suffocation with habitual criminality repeater; and child abuse with repeated acts to cause great bodily harm and habitual criminality repeater and use of dangerous weapon in the brutal stabbing incident. Later under a plea agreement with prosecutors to plea guilty, the initial felony charges were amended to mayhem.

On the original charges, Correa was facing up to 60-years in prison for intentional attempted homicide, and 5-years for use of a dangerous weapon: and an additional 60-years for child abuse to cause great bodily harm, and 5-years for use of a dangerous weapon; and up to 6--years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines for strangulation and suffocation. 

According to the criminal complaint, Correa stabbed his girlfriend after she broke up with him and took a knife away from her, after she tried to defend herself. Correa began to choke and beat his girlfriend when he learned that she would no longer be dating him and when she took out a knife from her pocket, Correa then was able to take it away from her and he began to stab her multiple times in the face. She suffered a fractured skull, broken nose and stab wounds to the face.

41-year-old Reinaldo Melendez Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Sexual Assault Of A Child Related Offense In Milwaukee

Melendez under a plea agreement will 5 years in prison and 5 years on supervision for reduced charges relating to sexual assault of a child.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 21, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, Reinaldo Melendez, 41, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading no contest to causing mental harm child and up to 3.5 years in prison for substantial battery intend bodily harm. Both sentences to be served concurrently (at same time), which Melendez will actually serve 5 years in prison and 5 years under supervision, according to Milwaukee County court records.

Melendez will register as a sex offender for life.

In a plea agreement, Melendez pleaded no contest for a reduction of charges. He was previously charged on March 8, 2024, with one felony count of repeated sexual assault of a child (3 or more violations of 1st-degree sexual assault) between March 6, 2019 thru August 3, 2023 (4 years), according to the Milwaukee County criminal complaint.

Melendez was facing up to 60 years in prison. 

Melendez is scheduled for a Milwaukee County jury trial on May 19, 2025 at the Safety Building room 620.

According to the criminal complaint, Melendez who is the stepfather of the female child victim began to inappropriately touch her at the age of 6, immediately after meeting her mother, and would come into her bedroom at night to sexually assault her. The sexual assault incidents occurred daily during the above mentioned time period when no one was at home or everyone was sleeping. The child victim described to police that Melendez would leave hand marks on her wrists when he would hold her down to sexually assault her. The door knobs to her bedroom were removed, but Melendez would still get into her bedroom to sexually assault her, according to the criminal complaint.

The child victim's mother left to Puerto Rico and left the child with her biological father who later discovered that his daughter had been sexually molested by Melendez.

The biological father also learned that her mother knew about the repeated sexual assaults of the child victim for 4 years, but didn't report it to police.

On October 4, 2023, Melendez was sentenced to 9 months at the Community Reintegration Center (formerly the Milwaukee County House of Corrections), but the sentenced was stayed and placed on probation for 18 months. He was convicted for one felony count of fleeing or eluding an officer

Insight MATC: Lack Of Leadership And Efficiency By President Dr. Anthony Cruz, Technical College Facing Layoffs, Job Eliminations, And Possible Administrative Non-contract Renewals To Offset $2.5M Deficit In 2027

Milwaukee Area Technical College facing ongoing critical administrative concerns by the MATC faculty, triggered by the current 2026 MATC deficit reported at $2.8M (has doubled since 2023 under Dr. Cruz), including MATC President Dr. Anthony Cruz's letter dated May 21, 2026, confirming that in June the technical college will begin to implement "a limited number of position eliminations" (employee layoffs), inevitably creating an employment crisis at MATC. 

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 26, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, Dr. Anthony Cruz, the President of the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) in a letter to MATC employees announced upcoming layoffs, job position eliminations and the restructuring of various departments. (See attached letter images)

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) learned that last Tuesday, May 19th, a 37-year-old MATC full-time administrative assistant was terminated (position eliminated) and was walked out of her job without prior notice. She worked at MATC for 10 years, she was told that she could reapply for a job, but no open positions exist at the moment. She was given 30 days pay, but she says that it won't be enough to survive without a job, and she has a son to support too. She also told HNNUSA that her MATC insurance will also expire in 30 days. She is very distraught about her current jobless ordeal and the lack of sensitivity from the Dr. Cruz administration.

HNNUSA also learned that at least 3 other MATC employees have been also let go without any prior notice and are facing the same jobless dilemma as the MATC administrative assistant.

The lax leadership of President Dr. Cruz and the MATC Board of Trustees alleged unwillingness to hold Dr. Cruz accountable has definitely led to a double deficit of $2.8M in 2026, in less then two years, while in 2023 under prior MATC President Vickie J. Martin, the technical college deficit was at $1.1M.

Also, the ongoing internal proliferation of a hostile work environment, which continues to be practiced today by the Cruz administration at MATC, including the elimination of the Office of Multicultural Student Services and the recent issues raised in regards to the gutting of the ESL, GED, 5.9/HSED programs, including MATC's teaching structure that has evolved into a technical and skilled learning curriculum provided by part-time instructors, who are not promoted as full-time instructors has definitely affected employee moral. The elimination of any credible Multicultural Student Services at MATC has also affected student recruitment, which a administration report to the MATC Board showed inflated student enrollment stats, when in fact enrollment had dropped.

The inept MATC Board of Trustees have yet to implement any credible reforms to restore any efficiency at the college.

Under MATC President Dr. Anthony Cruz leadership:

• The union was reportedly notified approximately one week ago that layoffs involving faculty and paraprofessional staff were coming through the viability process. Employees are now learning that additional eliminations may soon occur, according to Carlos Aranda, a MATC Counselor. Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BnWgNifAp/

• ESL, GED, 5.09/HSED programs are becoming less effective programs due to administrative gutting the programs due to deficit constraints. The 5 on 9 program is not failing, it's been allowed to fall apart by the MATC administration in Milwauke, Wisconsin.

• Students are to often left out of the decision making that's going to impact their education.

• Lack of collaboration between MATC administration and instructors reported at the recent MATC Board of Trustees meeting.

• MATC deficit under MATC President Dr. Anthony Cruz more than doubled from previous predecessor (former MATC President Vickie J. Martin) in 2023 with $1.1M to today under Dr. Cruz at $2.8M in 2026 to an expected deficit of $2.5M in fiscal year 2027.

• Elimination of the Office of Multicultural Student Services, and unjustly terminating 4 student services specialists affecting Latino/Hispanic, African-American, Asian-American and Native-American students including communities without their imput, in order to comply with Trump's illegal and unconstitutional executive order eliminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) race related programs, which multiple federal courts have ruled it was unconstitutional.

• MATC facing multiple employees discrimination complaints with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Equal Rights Division.

• MATC administration under Dr. Cruz has proliferated its hostile work environment including the practice of harassment, discrimination and retaliation against employees and instructors that file complaints or just complain.

• MATC cutting employee wages, but are being forced to work more without wage compensation.

• MATC has an all White male administration who are paid excessive wages, for example, Dr. Cruz gets $285,000 in salary per year with extras perks, eventhough, he has more than doubled the MATC deficit, since 2024.

• MATC President Cruz has ignored the communities of color demands to restore the Office of Multicultural Student Services, and has also failed to provide any particular reason why he continues to ignore the communities of color requests who actually pay his salary.

• MATC Human Resources led by Laquitha “Elle” Bonds-Jones, the Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer under Dr. Cruz cut part-time employees hourly wages without their knowledge and also reduced their sick leave pay. Part-time employees had to be compensated back pay wages and earned sick leave fully pay restored. Also, Bonds-Jones was eventually caught altering MATC policies without the knowledge of the MATC Board of Trustees or the MATC Local 212 union. Dr. Cruz has declined to terminate Bonds-Jones for her alleged misdeeds at the technical college.

• Student enrollment stats intentionally inflated, despite student enrollment decline between 2025 to 2026, according to discovery made by MATC Board of Trustees who learned that misinformation was being provided to them at the April 28, 2026 Board meeting. Presentation by Phillip King, the Executive Vice-President and Provost showed an enrollment decline from 2025 to 2026, but enrollment stats were inaccurately inflated, which multiple MATC Board members criticized Phillip for providing inaccurate student enrollment stats. (MATC Board meeting video time at 2:20:00 minute to 2:50:00 minutes stamp)

• MATC Board of Trustees meeting for Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the first 42 minutes of the meeting were public comments by 11 instructors, students and the MATC Local 212 union regarding their concerns and issues they are facing at MATC under Dr. Cruz's administration, at link: https://www.youtube.com/live/--C91QsctXM

• In less than 2 years at MATC, Dr. Cruz has continuously shown lack of leadership including his lack of ability to resolve major plaguing issues at the technical college, which so far, the inept Board of Trustees have failed to take any action to hold Dr. Cruz accountable.

MATC District Board Meeting: Faculty Raise Serious Concerns — AFT Local 212 https://share.google/ZW1kqIaJGjDePQuIx

Dr. Cruz Must Go!

Protests at MATC: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1JbKnLLzAh/

Full HNNUSA article: https://tinyurl.com/zy8jz5k5