ACLU Condemns Michigan County’s New Undocumented Immigrant Policy

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has condemned a resolution approved in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area on Monday, which directs police to track any and all contact with undocumented immigrants.

The ACLU released a joint statement with 18 organizations that advocate for immigrants and specific racial groups —including Behavior Analysts of West Michigan, Intentional Life Counseling and Addictions Treatment, and the National Association of Social Workers Michigan Chapter.

“We are deeply concerned about the passage of a resolution in Livingston County that, with the cooperation of the sheriff’s department, formalizes a plan to have law enforcement target immigrants who live and work in the county,” the statement reads. “Commissioners risk running afoul of the law and igniting costly court fights while at the same time fostering division and endangering all the county’s residents.”

The resolution requires LCSO to document interactions between undocumented immigrants and deputies “no matter the nature of the contact.” The language approved Monday refers to Vice President Kamala Harris as “the Border Czar” and claims (without data) that undocumented immigrants are contributing to a spike in crime.

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Ellie Jordan, managing attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center — which also joined the ACLU in releasing the statement — said during public comment Monday that Livingston County is the first community in Michigan to pass such a resolution.

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