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After hours of public comment, council considers resolution calling for limits on ICE operations, 'know your rights' outreach
Summary
Council heard extensive public testimony urging a resolution to oppose ICE and CBP practices, support 'know your rights' outreach, and seek legal and intergovernmental action; sponsors said legal partners would assist and asked staff to coordinate materials and operations planning.
Dozens of residents used the public-comment period to urge the Ypsilanti City Council to adopt a resolution opposing aggressive ICE and CBP enforcement tactics, to fund and distribute multilingual 'know your rights' materials, and to press regional officials and the state Attorney General to investigate local detentions.
The resolution’s sponsors said legal groups — including the ACLU of Michigan and university law clinics — had reviewed the draft and offered to help produce outreach materials and courtroom coordination where appropriate. The measure directs the city clerk and manager to coordinate distribution of 'know your rights' literature, to partner with transit and community organizations for outreach and to explore amicus support in related litigation.
Councilors discussed the legal boundaries of municipal action, the clerk’s role in voter protection and logistical support for polling places, and whether making city facilities available for trainings would face legal challenge. Staff and municipal attorneys indicated they would review requests and support clerk operations where consistent with existing duties.
Council did not finalize all action items immediately; sponsors asked staff to coordinate with legal partners and to supply the clerk with operational guidance and resources for dissemination and polling-place protections.
