Michigan Attorney General Urges Law Enforcement to Reassess ICE Collaboration Policies
The Michigan Attorney General has raised concerns about the state’s collaboration with federal immigration authorities, urging local law enforcement to reconsider their policies. This call comes amid increased federal immigration enforcement activities in neighboring Midwestern states.
In Michigan, only a small number of law enforcement agencies have formally agreed to take on roles typically handled by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, other agencies still engage with ICE by detaining immigrants or participating in federal arrest operations.
Attorney General Dana Nessel has highlighted risks associated with untrained federal agents working alongside local law enforcement, which could jeopardize residents and officers. According to Nessel, “It also subjects these local departments to extreme liability if they detained an individual and now they’re working in coordination with federal agents that are acting carelessly, negligently, or recklessly.”
The Department of Homeland Security has recently expanded its workforce by hiring thousands of new agents and shortened training programs. Officials claim these adjustments eliminate redundancies and incorporate new technologies to enhance enforcement capabilities.
Nessel also argues that violent offenders should be managed within Michigan’s criminal justice system rather than entering the federal immigration framework. She stated, “By allowing the state system to move forward, at least we know that our communities are safe from these people. The way that the feds are handling this, it’s not making people feel any safer, the fact that they’ve been shipped off to God knows where and could be left to come back at any time.”
The Trump administration has intensified efforts to establish deportation agreements with third countries, asserting that these measures enhance community safety. ICE frequently updates its social media with details of crimes allegedly committed by detainees.
Nessel’s concerns arise as hundreds of federal immigration agents are deployed to states like Illinois and Minnesota. Reports from Minnesota indicate instances of federal agents detaining U.S. citizens, using facial recognition, and monitoring onlookers.
ICE has defended its use of administrative warrants, unauthorised by a judge, to enter homes. Their FAQ page states that “trained, authorized immigration officers” can issue such warrants for arrests and removals.
Nessel, aligning with Democratic views, emphasizes the importance of public awareness regarding their rights during immigration enforcement activities, stating, “These federal agents, they’re not allowed to just take your phone from you. If that happens, you should do everything you possibly can to memorialize who this individual is and any information about them.”
Federal justifications for agent tactics remain strong, even as two citizens were killed during Minnesota crackdowns, leading to ongoing federal investigations. Local authorities have reportedly been excluded from these probes. Nessel assures that all incidents involving shootings, even those by federal agents, will undergo thorough investigation in Michigan.
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