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Residents press Huntington Woods officials for answers after CBP involvement in traffic stop
Summary
Residents raised alarms at the Nov. 18 City Commission meeting after Customs and Border Protection picked up people following a Nov. 17 traffic stop; the city manager said federal authorities were asked to help identify suspects and that the city has no immigration‑enforcement agreement.
Steve Gold, a Huntington Woods resident, told the Nov. 18 City Commission meeting that Customs and Border Protection arrived within an hour after a Nov. 17 traffic stop on 11 Mile Road and took a person into custody, and he urged the city not to participate in federal immigration enforcement. "It would appear… that Huntington Woods resources have been used… to voluntarily assist the Trump administration in its agenda of taking people off the streets for mass deportation," Gold said during public comment.
Laurie Lisi, another resident, thanked the Department of Public Safety for past service but said the community deserved a clear explanation about what happened. "Why did they feel they needed to call CBP? What is the policy of the Huntington Woods Public Safety Department with respect to asking immigration status of people they meet while policing?" she asked, urging more transparent, regular public engagement such as coffee hours or a civilian academy.
During the city manager's report, the official explained why federal authorities were contacted, saying immigration was asked "to help us identify a suspect. We do not have anything to do with their immigration status nor do we care," and that federal authorities advised there were "federal holds by a federal judge" that led to detainers. The manager said the Huntington Woods officers detained individuals for a federal agency to pick up but asserted the department does not assist in federal investigations or execute federal search warrants.
Commissioners asked for additional communication. One commissioner said it would be helpful for the Department of Public Safety to issue a public statement to clarify procedures and allay residents' concerns; another commissioner emphasized the city has not entered any agreement to assist ICE and does not intend to do so while that commissioner sits on the commission.
The commission did not take formal action on policy changes at the meeting but agreed to provide more information to residents and urged the public safety department to increase community outreach. The manager invited residents to contact the department directly for questions and noted past outreach efforts had inconsistent attendance.
