President Donald Trump’s administration filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Washtenaw County over immigration-related policies. The lawsuit claims the policies unlawfully interfere with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement efforts and violate the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the lawsuit names the county, Sheriff Alyshia Dyer, Prosecuting Attorney Eli Savit and the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners as defendants. In the filing, the federal government claims Washtenaw County’s policies obstruct immigration enforcement and “interfere with the Federal Government’s authority to protect Americans from criminal illegal aliens.”
The complaint points to a series of county actions, including a sheriff’s office policy declining to honor ICE detainers and limiting information sharing with the federal government, a prosecutorial directive encouraging the avoidance of immigration consequences in charging decisions and a county resolution requiring judicial warrants for federal immigration agents to access county facilities.
In a press release announcing the lawsuit, the U.S. Department of Justice argued that the county’s policies endanger public safety and undermine federal law enforcement.
“Washtenaw County’s policies prioritize the illegal alien over the safety of its own American citizens,” the press release wrote. “The County’s failure to honor ICE detainers endangers the public and places federal officers at great risk.”
The lawsuit is part of a broader effort by the DOJ to target what it describes as “sanctuary” jurisdictions across the country. In the same press release, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the administration intends to challenge similar policies nationwide.
“Federal agents are risking their lives to keep Michigan citizens safe, and yet Washtenaw County’s leaders are enacting policies designed to obstruct and endanger law enforcement,” Blanche said. “Counties may not deliberately interfere with our efforts to remove illegal aliens and arrest criminals — Washtenaw’s sanctuary policies will not stand.”
The DOJ said this case is the most recent of 14 similar legal actions filed in the past year, pointing to similar actions against New York, Minnesota, Los Angeles, Boston and New Jersey.
In an email to The Michigan Daily, Michelle Billard, Washtenaw County corporation counsel attorney, said the county plans to defend its policies in court.
“We strongly disagree with the characterization of our policies and are confident that our policies are firmly grounded in constitutional principles,” Billard wrote. “The County remains resolutely committed to public safety, enforcing the law, and protecting all members of our community. We are proud to be a welcoming community where all residents, including our immigrant residents, feel safe interacting with local government and law enforcement.”
Daily Staff Reporter Zahra Kagal can be reached at zkagal@umich.edu.
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