MADISON (WKOW) -- Republican lawmakers are defending legislation that that drew roughly 20,000 Latino protesters to the State Capitol Thursday.
The bill protesters find most offensive would prohibit so-called "sanctuary cities" in Wisconsin.
Most of the Latino leaders who rallied opponents say that bill will accomplish nothing, except to keep illegal immigrants from cooperating with law enforcement during criminal investigations.
But the bill's author and the Assembly speaker said Latino group are misrepresenting the bill.
Rep. John Spiros (R-Marshfield), who authored AB 450, said it only requires law enforcement to report illegal immigrants to federal authorities if they are charged with a crime. Spiros said he believes many Latino leaders were telling people they could be deported if they get a traffic ticket or other municipal citation, which is not true.