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Immigrant‑rights groups and residents urge council to investigate DPD handling of immigration questions and use of language services
Summary
Multiple callers asked the Public Health and Safety Committee to review a memo about Detroit Police Department contacts with residents that may involve immigration questions and to ensure DPD uses the city’s language access services rather than federal immigration agencies.
Dozens of community members and legal advocates told the Detroit City Council’s Public Health and Safety Committee that the Detroit Police Department should not engage in federal immigration enforcement and should use city language services rather than federal immigration agencies for interpretation.
Who testified: Speakers included Emily Embic (speaking to item 8.13), Christine Schwab and Ruby Robinson of the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, Cindy Gamboa (executive director of Micoder), and Brenda McDougie representing Rising Voices. Several witnesses urged the committee to require training and reporting related to the city’s Unbiased Provision of City Services Ordinance.
Concerns raised: Presenters said local police asking about immigration status or relying on U.S. Customs and Border Protection or ICE for translation could discourage immigrant victims and witnesses from reporting crimes and could lead to unconstitutional racial profiling. ‘‘Getting involved in federal immigration enforcement takes valuable time away from keeping local communities safe,’’ Christine Schwab said, adding that immigration enforcement is the federal government’s responsibility.
Policy requests: Testimony urged the committee to (1) review the memo from Pro Tem Tate about DPD practices, (2) ensure DPD provides training required by the city ordinance, and (3) require the Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity office (CRIO) and DPD to report on language‑access and training activities. Several speakers asked the council to require DPD to post its U‑ and T‑visa certification protocol and to process such certifications promptly, a practice community groups said is not consistently followed.
Council action and follow‑up: The committee chair acknowledged the concerns, said the committee’s office had already sent a memo to DPD, and asked for a report back. The committee asked that item 8.13 be brought back for further discussion in two weeks.
Ending: Advocates said ensuring language access and insulating local policing from federal immigration enforcement are necessary trust‑building measures that affect public safety and the willingness of residents to seek city services and report crime.
