DETROIT, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In Detroit’s 4th Precinct in early February, a woman walked into the police station to report a crime. But instead of just taking her extortion complaint, an officer went further according to Outlier Media who said he contacted ICE after she voluntarily shared her immigration status.
That officer at Detroit’s 4th Precinct called federal immigration authorities and instead of patting him on the back for doing his job and responding to a law enforcement matter that he encountered – a violation of U.S. federal immigration law – the Detroit Police Department (DPD) handed down a “corrective feedback” session to him because he had violated department rules by contacting ICE. More discipline for the officer could be forthcoming as he – not the illegal immigrant – is currently under investigation.
Breaking the law is still breaking the law.
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In the United States, illegally entering the U.S. is referred to as improper entry and the penalties under federal law are defined under the country’s immigration law, 8 U.S.C. § 1325 (part of the Immigration and Nationality Act).
A first offense can result in a fine, imprisonment for up to six months, or both. Subsequent illegal entries can be charged as a felony, carrying harsher penalties, including up to two years in prison.
Do not assume that the offense of illegal entry is a minor issue simply because it is classified as a misdemeanor. Misdemeanors can include charges such as shoplifting, DUI, vandalism, reckless driving, harassment, and simple assault. As with any criminal charge, enforcement of laws by law enforcement is expected.
Detroit’s hands-off policy.
However, the Detroit Police Department has a policy that forbids officers from enforcing federal laws including federal immigration laws. According to DPD Public Information Director Vic Pratt, the officer’s actions were not aligned with departmental policy.
The DPD apologized to the woman, who is reportedly still in Detroit and not at a detention center. She is, in fact, continuing to help the officers on the extortion complaint.
Pushback around the country.
A big reason many say that Donald Trump won the presidency – both in his first term and again in 2024 – was his tough stance and promises to stop the border invasion. On his first day in office in January, he issued an executive order titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion”, signaling a sharp escalation in federal efforts to address illegal immigration and border security. The order directs key federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, to take immediate action to counter what the administration refers to as an “invasion” at the southern border. The move emphasizes the deployment of additional resources, personnel, and advanced technology to stem the flow of illegal crossings and combat transnational criminal organizations involved in drug and human trafficking.
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Framed as a national security priority, the executive order also calls for enhanced cooperation with state and local governments and aims to tighten asylum and parole standards. While many states and cities are proactively assisting the federal government with immigration and helping to apprehend criminal illegal aliens in order to protect their citizens, others, like Detroit, are not.
Detroit Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero says that this event at the 4th Precinct gives illegal immigrants a reason to hesitate before calling the police. She was quick to reaffirm that this isn’t “how they conduct business” and that ICE should never have been called. But if public safety and enforcing the laws is the goal of police departments, why are officers being handcuffed by a policy that prevents them from working with all available resources and allowing their own police to report crimes?
