Michigan is not a sanctuary state, but Detroit operates under the Welcoming City Initiative limiting local police cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement absent a judicial warrant.
Detroit adopted Welcoming City policies through Mayoral Executive Order and Detroit Police Department Directive 304.4, restricting officers from inquiring about immigration status during routine encounters and from honoring ICE administrative detainers without a judicial warrant. Michigan has no statewide sanctuary law, and several state legislators have introduced anti-sanctuary bills that have not passed. Detroit accepts the Municipal ID program and partners with immigrant-serving nonprofits. The policy stops short of full noncooperation: serious felonies, criminal warrants, and federal task force operations may still involve information-sharing. Public schools, hospitals, and city services do not collect immigration status.
DPD officers violating Directive 304.4 face internal discipline, retraining, and civilian oversight review through the Board of Police Commissioners. The policy creates no private right of action but supports civil rights claims.
See how Detroit's sanctuary policy preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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