Investigation Urged into Immigration Practices of Company Owned by Major MAGA Donors
A Milwaukee city council member has called for a formal investigation into the immigration policies at Uline, the office supply company owned by Liz and Richard Uihlein, who are among the largest donors to MAGA Republicans in the 2024 election cycle. The statement by JoCasta Zamarripa, who is running for the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin secretary of state ahead of the November election, follows a Guardian investigation into Uline's previous use of a so-called "shuttle program."
Details of the Shuttle Program
This program involved Uline bringing workers from its facilities in Mexico to staff warehouses at its headquarters in Wisconsin, Florida, and Pennsylvania for weeks and even months at a time. These workers were reportedly using visas intended for training purposes, not for regular full-time employment, raising questions about compliance with immigration laws. Uline, a privately held company estimated to generate $8 billion in annual revenues and employ about 9,000 people, has declined to comment on Zamarripa's remarks and previously refused to address detailed questions about the shuttle program.
Sources with knowledge of the matter indicated that the program was abruptly halted in late 2024 when the Guardian first reported on the practice. A recent Guardian story featured an interview with Christian Valenzuela, a Mexican worker who shared his experiences in the shuttle program, including how he was injured while working in Wisconsin, sent back to Mexico, and ultimately lost his job. Valenzuela described the work conditions, stating, "We were just going to work. They always gave us more work, because we were stronger workers. Because the Americans perhaps work at their own pace, going little by little. Whereas we Mexicans are faster, more productive, more everything."
Political and Legal Implications
In her Facebook statement, dedicated to her campaign, Zamarripa wrote, "Billionaires fund the crackdown, then exploit the very people targeted by it – because they think money shields them from consequences. Wisconsin needs transparency, a real investigation, and accountability that applies to everyone." She further criticized the Uihlein family, noting, "The billionaire Uihlein family – among the biggest Republican mega-donors in the nation – have helped bankroll the very politicians, including Donald Trump, behind today's out-of-control immigration crackdowns. Now we learn that workers in Pleasant Prairie say Mexican employees were pushed into dangerous, exhausting conditions and punished for speaking up – all while fueling Uline's enormous wealth."
Zamarripa, a former Wisconsin state representative from Milwaukee who now represents a South Side district on the Milwaukee city council, has declared her intention to seek the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin secretary of state ahead of the primary election in August. She told the Wisconsin Examiner, the first newspaper to report on her statement, that she would call on state officials to investigate the company's practices and potential legal violations. Zamarripa did not respond to a request for an interview regarding this matter.
Background on Uihlein Donations
The Uihleins have continued to serve as major donors to the Republican party. According to a report by Wisconsin Public Radio, the couple donated a total of $1 million in the first six months of 2025 to a Wisconsin college Republicans group called the Wisconsin Federation of College Republicans. The president of this college fund, Nick Jacobs, previously received $1 million from Elon Musk. The group has endorsed Tom Tiffany, a US congressman, for the Republican nomination for governor, a move that was also endorsed by Donald Trump. This endorsement prompted Josh Schoemann, another early candidate for the Republican nomination, to step down from the race.
The call for an investigation highlights ongoing tensions between immigration policies and corporate practices, particularly involving high-profile political donors. As the situation develops, further scrutiny may be applied to Uline's operations and the broader implications for immigration enforcement and worker rights in the United States.
