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Madison Heights resident urges police to bar ICE from schools without warrant; council reiterates limits of local authority
Summary
A Madison Heights resident asked the city to ensure local police prevent immigration enforcement on school grounds without a particularized warrant; council members said federal immigration enforcement is generally outside city authority and no policy changes were announced.
A Madison Heights resident urged the City Council on Jan. 27 to oppose immigration enforcement actions on local school grounds unless officers have a warrant specifying a person or object.
Natalia, who identified herself as a Madison Heights resident, told the council she was "concerned about how our police department plans to address this issue" and urged the police to "reject the unlawful entrance of any ICE officers on school grounds without a sufficient warrant, specifying a particular person or object." She cited U.S. Supreme Court and constitutional protections and referenced the 1982 Supreme Court decision Plyler v. Doe in arguing for safeguards that protect children's access to public education.
Members of the council thanked Natalia for speaking and described an intent to be mindful of residents' concerns. During council remarks later in the meeting, an official noted that federal immigration enforcement generally falls outside municipal authority and said the Madison Heights Police Department would continue to prioritize resident and child safety; the council did not announce any changes to local policy during the meeting.
Natalia also referred to recent nationwide immigration enforcement actions and said they were causing fear among families in the community; she cited economic contributions by immigrants to Michigan but did not provide verifiable sources for the specific figures she mentioned in the public comment. Council members responded with expressions of appreciation for her remarks and calls for civility and community support, and several council members noted upcoming community events including Lunar New Year and library programming.
No formal action, ordinance or policy change related to immigration enforcement was proposed or adopted during the meeting.
