“The goal of the legislation is to make sure that people who commit crimes are punished,” Vos said. “The basic idea that fear is being instilled is not coming from the Wisconsin Legislature. It’s coming from the activists who want to try to pursue a political agenda.”

Dave Gorak of La Valle, executive director of the Midwest Coalition to Reduce Immigration, also took issue with the rally, calling it “outrageous.”

“These people have no respect for our laws or our sovereignty, yet they want us to respect them for attempting to cut the legs off our enforcement policies,” he said.

However, Middleton dairy farmer Thomas Wagner, 62, said he doesn’t think legislators understand the consequences of what they’re doing. He came to the rally to support the 13 Latinos who work for him, more than half of his farm’s workforce, he said. He and his brothers would not be able to continue operating their 1,700-head dairy operation without them, he said.

“We need these people in our state,” he said. “They are good, honest, hard workers.”

East High sophomore Alexandra Miranda, 15, came to the rally with her parents and two younger brothers. She said most of her friends also chose the rally over classes.