A local activist group is renewing its push for Detroit to formally declare itself a sanctuary city, arguing that the city’s current “welcoming” designation lacks meaningful protections against federal immigration enforcement.
Organizers with the Detroit Community Action Committee say the distinction matters, especially as immigration enforcement actions continue to impact families and students within the city. The group is calling on Detroit City Council to adopt an ordinance that would limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Kassandra Rodriguez, an organizer with the committee, told CBS Detroit that Detroit’s current policies do not go far enough. She cited multiple cases over the past year in which Detroit high school students were deported, arguing that those removals demonstrate gaps in the city’s protections.
Under current practice, Detroit is considered a “welcoming city,” a term often used to describe municipalities that do not require police officers or city employees to ask residents about their immigration status. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, there is no formal legal definition separating welcoming cities from sanctuary cities. In practice, sanctuary city policies typically go further by limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement requests.
Some legal experts caution that a sanctuary designation would not prevent federal agencies from operating within city limits. Jonathan Weinberg, a law professor at Wayne State University, has said federal officers retain the authority to enforce immigration law regardless of local policy. He also noted that such a designation could potentially draw increased federal enforcement activity rather than deter it.
Rodriguez disputed that assessment, arguing that concerns about federal response should not outweigh local policy decisions. She said residents in cities across the country have already seen aggressive enforcement actions and believes formal sanctuary protections would provide clarity and consistency for Detroit residents.
The renewed push places pressure on Detroit City Council to decide whether the city should maintain its current welcoming status or take the additional step of formally adopting sanctuary city policies.
- NMD Staff
Staff@NewMediaDetroit.com