Police chief: DPD doesn’t do immigration enforcement

February 9, 2026

During his confirmation hearing as Detroit Police Chief, Todd Bettison stated that the department does not enforce federal immigration laws, though officers will honor court-signed ICE detainer requests for individuals already in custody. Council member Santiago-Romero challenged this position, citing community concerns about unmarked vehicles and ICE agents claiming to be DPD officers, and urged more proactive measures to protect residents and monitor federal immigration activity in the city. She also emphasized the urgent need to fill the vacant Office of Immigrant Affairs leadership position, noting her office has been overwhelmed with immigration-related inquiries.

Who is affected

Detroit residents, particularly immigrant community members
Detroit Police Department officers
Council member Santiago-Romero and her office staff
Individuals detained at the Detroit Detention Center
The Office of Immigrant Affairs (currently without leadership)
Mayor Mary Sheffield's administration
Chief Todd Bettison
ICE agents operating in Detroit

What action is being taken

DPD is honoring ICE detainer requests signed by judges for people held in the Detroit Detention Center
DPD officers are being reminded not to enforce immigration laws
Santiago-Romero's office is handling immigration-related calls forwarded from other council offices
The Sheffield administration is conducting interviews to hire a leader for the Office of Immigrant Affairs
The Office of Immigrant Affairs is being moved under the mayor's oversight

Why it matters

This matters because there is a disconnect between official city policy and residents' experiences on the ground, creating confusion and fear in immigrant communities. The vacuum in leadership at the Office of Immigrant Affairs during a period of heightened federal immigration enforcement leaves vulnerable residents without adequate support and places inappropriate burdens on council offices not equipped to handle such specialized issues. The situation also raises accountability concerns about whether federal agents are misrepresenting themselves and operating in Detroit without proper notification to city officials.

What's next

Interviews are being scheduled for the Office of Immigrant Affairs leadership position, which should be filled within a few weeks
Bettison committed to holding officers accountable if they violate the policy against enforcing immigration laws

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com