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Residents press Oakland County to act locally on ICE; commissioners refer measures to new ad hoc committee
Summary
Dozens of Oakland County residents used a nearly four‑hour public‑comment period to demand immediate county action to limit federal immigration enforcement on county property and to fund legal and food assistance. Commissioners created an ad hoc committee and referred several specific resolutions for legal review.
Dozens of Oakland County residents filled the board chambers on Feb. 19 to press the county to adopt enforceable local measures to limit federal immigration enforcement and to provide immediate aid to affected families.
Speakers described witnessing or hearing reports of civil‑immigration enforcement activity across the county, cited national incidents and demanded that the board use county authority now. Repeatedly throughout the morning and afternoon, public commenters urged the commission to adopt five specific local actions: bar DHS, CBP or ICE activity on county property without a judicial warrant; refuse 287(g) agreements; allocate $50,000 for legal aid for residents; allocate $100,000 through the health department to address food insecurity for impacted children; and decline to renew the county’s data‑sharing/IT contract often referred to in testimony as Clemis or Clemens.
"If we don't do something preemptively to protect ourselves, we will be sorry," said Constance Peabody of Clarkston, one of many residents who asked commissioners to go beyond a symbolic resolution at the state level. Other speakers gave first‑hand accounts of detentions they said occurred in Pontiac, Rochester Hills, Waterford and other communities.
A number of residents urged immediate county action rather than waiting for state legislation that may never pass. "The buildings are ours. The contracts are ours. The budget is ours," said activist Mike Flores, calling on commissioners to exercise local authority. Several commenters described humanitarian concerns including children separated from caregivers and limited access to counsel in detention centers.
Board members repeatedly said they had heard the message and that legal counsel and administration would review what actions are legally available. Commissioner Cavell encouraged public attendees to join ad hoc committee meetings once scheduled; Chair David T. Woodward said staff had begun processes related to contract non‑renewal and that counsel was engaged to ensure employee and resident safety in any implementation.
The ad hoc Community Safety & Civil Rights Committee was confirmed during the meeting; several immigration‑related resolutions introduced later in the session were referred to that committee for detailed drafting, legal review and recommendation back to the full board.
The public commentary underscored widely shared local urgency. Speakers represented faith groups, nonprofit organizations and many Oakland County municipalities; a subset opposed the board adopting such measures, saying they would constrain law enforcement. Commissioners said the ad hoc committee will examine the legal path for specific county actions and bring those options back to the full board.
