YPSILANTI, Mich. – Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents reportedly took several parents into custody at a school bus stop in Ypsilanti during Tuesday morning’s student drop-off.
Three detainees are now receiving legal support from the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC).
“It is just heartbreaking to see these actions roll out,” said Christine Sauvé, MIRC’s policy, engagement, and communications manager.
“There are no words to fully capture the pain, fear, and disruption this causes for our scholars and their loved ones,” Ypsilanti Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross wrote in a letter to families.
Zachery-Ross emphasized that the district does not voluntarily cooperate with ICE and is working to maintain school grounds as protected spaces for student learning.
Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer addressed the incident’s impact on social media, noting that ICE typically conducts these operations without advance notice or coordination with local dispatch, leaving communities to manage the aftermath.
“These situations are deeply distressing for families, especially for children,” Dyer stated.
Local 4 reached out to ICE to find out why the parents were detained, and is awaiting a response.
The MIRC reports an uptick in immigration enforcement activities throughout Michigan.
“That is happening in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the state. We don’t have the same task force representation of federal forces that we are seeing in other states,” Sauvé said.
She encourages people to familiarize themselves with their rights and prepare for immigration enforcement.
In response to the incident, Dr. Zachery-Ross advised families to take precautions when traveling to school and recommended reviewing “Know Your Rights” materials.