GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The city of Grand Rapids greatly discourages its police officers from doing anything to find illegal immigrants in their city, but does leave the door open to work with the federal government if approved by top police administrators.
Policing policy in Grand Rapids.
The city of Grand Rapids police provided its policing policy, which was adopted in 2019, when working with federal immigration officials to the city commission this week.
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The city commission was also given a letter with more than 1,800 names attached to it asking that the city become a “Sanctuary City.”
“With the incoming Trump Administration threat of mass deportations, it is imperative that institutions across the city of Grand Rapids step up and take action in support of our undocumented immigrants who are an integral part of our community,” the letter stated.
The police policy states police may work with federal authorities as long as the matter is “unrelated to federal civil immigration enforcement.”
Police officers can not ask people about their immigration status when interacting with them and my not stop, question or arrest people suspected of being illegal immigrants.
Police chief approval.
Cooperation with federal immigration authorities must be approved by the police chief of the deputy police chief.
The policy states under “SPECIFIC DUTIES”
1. No member of the Grand Rapids Police Department shall
a. Coerce, threaten with deportation, or engage in verbal abuse with any person based upon the person’s, or the person’s family members’, actual or perceived immigration status or citizenship.
b. Inquire into a person’s immigration status when the person is seeking police services, such as filing a police report or calling 911.
c. Stop, question, investigate, arrest, search, or detain an individual based solely on:
(1) Actual or suspected immigration status; or
(2) Actual or suspected violations of federal civil immigration law, including an immigration detainer, administrative immigration warrant, prior deportation order, or other civil immigration document.
d. Inquire of any individual about the immigration status of any person, or require any individual to produce any document to prove their immigration status. Exceptions may be made for legitimate law enforcement needs. These may include:
(1) Complying with consular notification requirements.
(2) Complying with diplomatic or consular immunity requirements.
(3) The information is required to be obtained by federal, state, or city law. Examples include background checks and employment requirements.
(4) When circumstances of an ongoing criminal investigation make the information relevant to the investigation, and not civil immigration enforcement.
e. Request translation services from federal immigration authorities, barring exigent circumstances.
2. Officers may provide assistance to federal immigration authorities when there is an emergency posing an immediate danger to the public safety or to the federal agents.
3. If a non-emergency request is made by federal immigration authorities the department may provide available support services, such as traffic control or peacekeeping efforts, upon approval of the Chief of Police or a Deputy Chief of Police.
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