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Detroit Police Chief says department will not perform immigration enforcement; reiterates welcoming-city stance
Summary
Detroit Police Chief attended council to reiterate that DPD focuses on local and state law enforcement and does not conduct immigration enforcement operations; the department said officers will not ask about immigration status during local encounters and emphasized protections for crime victims.
Detroit Police Chief (identified in the meeting transcript as Chief Bettison) told Detroit City Council on Jan. 28 that the Detroit Police Department will not engage in immigration-enforcement activities and will continue to focus on local and state law enforcement.
The chief told the council he visited in person to "make that crystal clear" and to reassure immigrant communities that DPD officers will not ask about immigration status during the routine local encounters that constitute the bulk of department work. "The Detroit Police Department position has not changed. We don't do customs and immigration enforcement," the chief said.
He contrasted local police functions with federal immigration and highway enforcement agencies, noting Michigan State Police typically handle freeway traffic enforcement and federal partners (such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and Border Protection) handle immigration-specific investigations. The chief said DPD will cooperate with federal partners when investigations and formal detainers arise through the criminal process and when fingerprints or other identification information are run and matched in federal systems, but DPD will pursue local accountability first for people arrested for violent crimes.
Chief Bettison also said the department is taking steps to reassure and train officers — including targeted reminders to officers in precincts with high immigrant populations — that officers should not ask about immigration status during routine local encounters and should follow department policies that safeguard victims’ willingness to report crimes. He said the department coordinates with federal entities, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI, on transnational trafficking and other major investigations.
Council members thanked the chief for appearing in person. Council Member Gabriela Santiago Romero and others emphasized the importance of protecting crime victims’ access to the police regardless of immigration status and urged the council and department to consider further policy steps.
Ending: The chief left the council with assurances that DPD will prioritize local public safety and victim services while cooperating with federal partners when legally required; council members asked for continued outreach to immigrant communities and further policy discussion.
