Duggan: ‘The Pain When ICE is in Your Community is Very Real’

February 12, 2026

At Michigan's first gubernatorial forum featuring all major candidates, independent candidate and former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan defended his administration's approach to federal immigration enforcement, stating the city has refused for twelve years to sign agreements making local police extensions of ICE. While Duggan emphasized Detroit police don't inquire about immigration status to maintain community trust, he acknowledged the city honors federal detainer warrants for undocumented immigrants arrested for crimes. Democrats and immigration activists criticized Duggan for not doing enough to protect residents, citing incidents where Detroit police assisted ICE operations that resulted in chaotic arrests and detentions.

Who is affected

Immigrant communities and families living in Detroit and Michigan, particularly undocumented immigrants
Witnesses and crime victims in immigrant communities who may fear reporting crimes
Alex Pretti, a VA nurse killed by ICE in Minneapolis
Two protestors arrested during an ICE detention in Detroit
A Honduran immigrant detained and removed from the country
Detroit high schoolers targeted by ICE operations
Mike Duggan, Jocelyn Benson, Chris Swanson, and Mike Cox as gubernatorial candidates
Detroit residents experiencing ICE operations in their neighborhoods
Public school advocates angered by Duggan's positions on private school funding

What action is being taken

Detroit police maintain a policy of not asking about immigration status during street interactions
Detroit police honor federal detainer warrants when undocumented immigrants are arrested for crimes
Detroit City Council member Gabriela Santiago-Romero is seeking information from Police Chief Todd Bettison about how the police department works with ICE
Santiago-Romero is meeting with Mayor Mary Sheffield and the city's Immigration Task Force to discuss federal immigration policies
The Michigan gubernatorial candidates are participating in forums and campaigning for the governorship

Why it matters

This issue matters because it involves fundamental tensions between local community safety, immigrant rights, and federal law enforcement. How local police interact with ICE directly impacts whether immigrant community members feel safe reporting crimes and cooperating with law enforcement, which affects public safety for entire communities. The gubernatorial race will determine Michigan's future approach to these federal immigration enforcement activities, making candidates' positions on this issue significant for immigrant families living in fear of deportation and for the broader question of state versus federal authority.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article regarding the gubernatorial candidates' specific plans. However, the article mentions that Detroit City Council member Santiago-Romero is awaiting answers to questions about ICE support in Detroit, and she stated she looks forward to continued collaboration with the Mayor on protecting Detroiters.

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle