Chaos erupts during Wisconsin immigration hearing as Democrat lunges at chairman’s gavel

A Wisconsin Senate immigration hearing devolved into chaos when the panel’s top Democrat lunged at the chairman’s gavel during a debate over a bill to bar public funds from paying for healthcare for undocumented immigrants. The clash occurred in the State and Federal Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Oconomowoc, a former Senate president, and underscored the high tensions surrounding immigration policy at the state level.

Ranking member Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, opposed the bill and anchored his case in testimony about a migrant woman described as initially lawfully present but later deported, with a claim that she died after not being able to refill a prescription when private insurance lapsed. Larson, a fellow Democrat from Milwaukee, later apologized after it was reported the woman was still alive. As Carpenter pressed his point and grew animated, Kapenga banged the gavel to call for order, and the two men exchanged heated lines.

Kapenga then intervened, noting that the panel could not be expected to comment on an individual’s situation and that the sponsors were there to discuss the bill itself. He objected to Larson explicitly bringing up changes to the federal immigration system under President Donald Trump as outside the scope of the bill. "Gentlemen, that’s outside the scope of the bill," Kapenga said. Co-sponsor Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, tried to steer the discussion back to the bill’s contents, saying, "anybody who is here that is not a citizen – here as a temporary resident; they are here on a visa or whatever, they always have their ability… to be here be revoked."

Carpenter replied that Wisconsin is dealing with federal issues in how Trump is conducting official business, arguing its relevance to the debate. "We were told by the president that only the violent criminals were going to be deported… That’s not all that’s happening… so when you're bringing this up and saying, ‘Hey, look you can't have any medical care for people that are being detained’ that's wrong: it’s unchristian, it’s immoral," Carpenter said, continuing to speak as Kapenga tapped the gavel.

In the exchange that followed, Carpenter told Kapenga that he was "too cowardly to let me speak… the truth about this situation." Cross talk intensified, with Carpenter weaving in broader complaints about federal policy and historical deportations of Mexican immigrants. Kapenga again banged the gavel, and Carpenter lunged toward it, sparking renewed interruptions and questions about decorum.

Following the moment, Carpenter insisted he would continue the full floor debate, prompting Kapenga to conclude the exchange with, "Gentlemen, we’re done." The session ended without a vote on the immediate question but highlighted a broader fight over how states respond to immigration policy.

Kapenga later reflected to Fox News Digital that the video is a timely reminder of the dangers of rhetoric that crosses into misinformation or personal attacks. He said the incident demonstrates how quickly discourse can degrade when decorum is abandoned and emphasized the need for measured language to persuade opponents. He also drew a line between civil debate and fear-mongering, drawing a connection to broader national conversations about how to discuss immigration.

Fox News Digital’s coverage underscored how state-level debates on immigration can become flashpoints that attract national attention, illustrating the persistence of partisan tensions in the policy arena. The report noted comments from Kapenga and that the video has sparked renewed discussion about decorum in legislative proceedings. Fox News Digital’s coverage also included statements from the network’s team about the broader context of political rhetoric in public forums.

Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.