Detentions at Detroit’s Ambassador Bridge Spark Concerns
Unexpected detentions at the U.S.-Canada border have drawn attention to the operational practices of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Detroit’s Ambassador Bridge. Over 200 immigrants have been detained since January, as reported by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s office, raising alarms among immigrant rights advocates and attorneys.
Questions arise about CBP’s capacity for long-term detentions, especially with reports indicating detainees, including families with U.S. citizen children, are denied legal counsel and consular contact. Ruby Robinson, an attorney with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, highlights a shift from past administrations, noting, “What we’re seeing now is people held there [at the Ambassador Bridge] for days.”
Data obtained during Tlaib’s March 21 site visit reveals that 90% of those detained arrived after mistakenly taking an exit off I-75 leading directly to the bridge. This route forces drivers, often non-U.S. citizens, to continue to Canada, only to be turned back and detained by CBP.
Specific cases illustrate the troubling situation. In one instance, a Guatemalan national shopping with her daughters was detained for five days without access to legal aid or her consulate, as reported by NPR. Similarly, the New York Times reported that Venezuelan national Ricardo Prada Vasquez faced unclear detention circumstances before a fast-tracked deportation process.
Robinson points out repeated instances where detainees’ locations remain unknown, complicating legal access and family notifications. He emphasizes, “If someone was held for a couple of days in CBP and then transferred to ICE, you’re looking at weeks that can go by where no one knows where you are.”
While a CBP spokesperson stated that their facilities are not meant for long-term detention and highlighted the use of the ICE locator for tracking, Robinson counters that individuals frequently do not appear in the system promptly.
Family separation is another concern. Despite CBP claims of minimal instances, Tlaib’s office reports cases of prolonged family detention. Christine Sauve from the Michigan Immigration Rights Center raises concerns about potential unreported separations, especially in light of the reduced oversight following administrative changes.
CBP disputes some specifics of the reported detentions, arguing that not all individuals were held long-term. The agency emphasizes its commitment to minimizing detention duration, attributing the need for detention to legal violations. However, Robinson criticizes the lack of due process, warning against the quiet escalation of detentions at CBP sites.
“Now people are also being detained at CBP sites, but it’s happening quietly and people are disappearing and no one knows about it,” Robinson said. “We don’t think that taking that wrong turn at the border should result in disappearance.”
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