By Liz Nass
Gongwer News Service
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Thursday against officials in Washtenaw County claiming the county is obstructing the efforts of federal immigration enforcement.
The lawsuit claims the county has “sought to undermine” immigration law.
The lawsuit names Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, who is also running for attorney general, Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer and the county’s board of commissioners, as defendants.
“Such blatant disregard for federal laws that have been on the books for over three decades is not merely a political statement but is also deliberate action that jeopardizes the public safety of all Americans,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit claims the county is failing to protect residents via the state and U.S. Constitution but also interferes with foreign policy objectives and national security interests “by releasing unvetted, illegal aliens onto the streets of the nation and undermining the efforts of the federal government to apprehend such aliens.”
The lawsuit cited a case in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court against Mario Rodriguez, who was not legally permitted to be in the county and was charged with criminal sexual conduct, that when he is released from the county jail the jail staff will be prohibited from complying with the ICE detainer request or notifying ICE of his release from criminal custody when that day ultimately arrives.
The lawsuit also claimed the sheriff’s office is refusing to complete requests for detainment from immigration enforcement while the prosecutor’s office has been telling local prosecutors to offer pleas without immigration consequences.
The six counts filed against the defendants in the suit include disregard of federal preemption and the supremacy clause in the U.S. Constitution.
Michelle Billard, spokesperson for the corporation counsel of the county, said in a statement to Gongwer News Service the county strongly disagrees with the characterization of their policies and “are confident that our policies are firmly grounded in constitutional principles.”
“The county remains resolutely committed to public safety, enforcing the law, and protecting all members of our community,” Billard said. “We are proud to be a welcoming community where all residents, including our immigrant residents, feel safe interacting with local government and law enforcement. We will vigorously defend the county’s policies in court.”
President Donald Trump’s administration has been laser-focused on attempting to provoke what he considers sanctuary cities, including creating an executive order to pull federal funding from those cities that he claims are interfering with federal enforcement,
While East Lansing is the only Michigan city officially a sanctuary city, other jurisdictions have previously been flagged by the administration for noncompliance including Ann Arbor, and Kalamazoo, Kent, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford counties.
Gongwer News Service
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Thursday against officials in Washtenaw County claiming the county is obstructing the efforts of federal immigration enforcement.
The lawsuit claims the county has “sought to undermine” immigration law.
The lawsuit names Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, who is also running for attorney general, Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer and the county’s board of commissioners, as defendants.
“Such blatant disregard for federal laws that have been on the books for over three decades is not merely a political statement but is also deliberate action that jeopardizes the public safety of all Americans,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit claims the county is failing to protect residents via the state and U.S. Constitution but also interferes with foreign policy objectives and national security interests “by releasing unvetted, illegal aliens onto the streets of the nation and undermining the efforts of the federal government to apprehend such aliens.”
The lawsuit cited a case in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court against Mario Rodriguez, who was not legally permitted to be in the county and was charged with criminal sexual conduct, that when he is released from the county jail the jail staff will be prohibited from complying with the ICE detainer request or notifying ICE of his release from criminal custody when that day ultimately arrives.
The lawsuit also claimed the sheriff’s office is refusing to complete requests for detainment from immigration enforcement while the prosecutor’s office has been telling local prosecutors to offer pleas without immigration consequences.
The six counts filed against the defendants in the suit include disregard of federal preemption and the supremacy clause in the U.S. Constitution.
Michelle Billard, spokesperson for the corporation counsel of the county, said in a statement to Gongwer News Service the county strongly disagrees with the characterization of their policies and “are confident that our policies are firmly grounded in constitutional principles.”
“The county remains resolutely committed to public safety, enforcing the law, and protecting all members of our community,” Billard said. “We are proud to be a welcoming community where all residents, including our immigrant residents, feel safe interacting with local government and law enforcement. We will vigorously defend the county’s policies in court.”
President Donald Trump’s administration has been laser-focused on attempting to provoke what he considers sanctuary cities, including creating an executive order to pull federal funding from those cities that he claims are interfering with federal enforcement,
While East Lansing is the only Michigan city officially a sanctuary city, other jurisdictions have previously been flagged by the administration for noncompliance including Ann Arbor, and Kalamazoo, Kent, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford counties.
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