Michigan is not a sanctuary state, but Detroit operates as a Welcoming City under 2017 Executive Order limiting police cooperation with ICE detainers absent judicial warrants. Wayne County Sheriff honors ICE administrative requests; many smaller cities have no formal sanctuary or anti-sanctuary stance.
Michigan has not enacted statewide sanctuary or anti-sanctuary legislation. Detroit's 2017 Executive Order 2017-1 prohibits city employees, including police, from inquiring about immigration status during routine encounters and from honoring ICE detainers without judicial warrants signed by a federal judge. Hamtramck, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor have similar Welcoming City policies. Wayne County Sheriff's Office, however, generally honors ICE administrative detainer requests at the jail. The county does not run an E-Verify mandate. Michigan State Police participate in some ICE 287(g) information-sharing programs. Federal enforcement priorities have shifted dramatically across recent administrations.
No municipal violations apply to Welcoming City policies. Federal civil immigration enforcement remains entirely a federal matter, though deputized 287(g) officers can act on ICE authority.
See how Livonia's sanctuary policy preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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