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Bay City commission adopts resolution limiting local involvement in federal immigration enforcement, 5-4
Summary
After hours of public comment and debate, the Bay City City Commission voted 5-4 to adopt a resolution that affirms the city’s priority on local public safety responsibilities and declines to use city resources for federal immigration enforcement.
The Bay City City Commission voted 5-4 on March 17 to adopt a resolution affirming that local public safety resources should prioritize city policing and emergency response rather than federal immigration enforcement.
The resolution, moved by Commissioner Christopher Runberg and seconded by Commissioner Denney, passed after more than two hours of public comment and debate among commissioners. The measure says the city will not direct its police or other municipal employees to enforce federal immigration law or to undertake immigration detention activities that are not part of routine public-safety duties.
Supporters of the resolution told the commission that directing local officers into immigration enforcement would erode trust between immigrant communities and police, make residents less likely to report crimes or cooperate with investigations, and would impose training and operational costs on an already stretched public-safety force. “Let ICE do ICE’s job; let our law enforcement do our law enforcement’s job,” said Carolyn Caloris, a registered nurse who spoke during public comment.
Opponents warned the commission that adopting the resolution exposed Bay City to the risk of losing federal or state funding and urged caution. Commissioner Prince said the city could not afford to jeopardize grants such as Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money, and said he would vote no.
City public-safety leadership told commissioners the resolution would not change day-to-day policing. The department representative said the city had not been deputized in the past to enforce immigration and that, in their view, “this resolution doesn’t really change anything for what we do.” That official also said local departments do not routinely ask people about immigration status and that 911 calls can be made without declaring citizenship.
Commission discussion focused on legal risk, fiscal exposure and local control. Commissioner Hilliker proposed referring the measure back to staff to compile a full list of federal and state funding programs that could be affected and a contingency plan; that referral failed on a roll call. Supporters argued the vote was a local policy choice meant to protect community trust and public-safety priorities; opponents repeated concerns about the potential financial effects and urged restraint.
The commission considered an updated version of the resolution that had been circulated before the meeting; the mayor confirmed the body was voting on that version. After the vote, the mayor adjourned the meeting.
What happens next: The resolution is declaratory policy for the city commission. It does not create a new local ordinance, and, as supporters noted during the meeting, federal agencies retain the authority to operate in the city. The resolution’s adoption does not prevent federal immigration action in Bay City.
Votes at a glance: The final recorded tally was 5 in favor and 4 opposed. The motion had been moved by Commissioner Christopher Runberg and seconded by Commissioner Denney.
