STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor is calling for changes in how city police work with federal immigration authorities and handle traffic stops involving undocumented immigrants.
In an impassioned call to action at the Jan. 20 Sterling Heights City Council meeting, Taylor urged council members to consider enacting new policies to limit police cooperation with U.S Border Patrol and U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
It comes after a traffic stop on Jan. 9, where Taylor said a Sterling Heights police officer held a group of passengers so they could be detained by federal agents.
“It’s not good enough to me that we would turn over anybody who is not a criminal, who is just peacefully existing here in our city, to those monsters,” Taylor said during the meeting, which can be watched by clicking here.
During that traffic stop, Taylor said the driver produced a foreign ID.
He said the officer contacted U.S Border Patrol and learned the agency had a warrant out for his arrest.
He said the officer then asked the other passengers for their IDs, which they didn’t legally have to provide, and held them at the agency’s request until they could be detained.
“There was a passenger in that truck who was asked for his ID. He didn’t have to give it over. He didn’t know that, but he didn’t have to give it over. He gave the officer his ID, that directly led to him being apprehended by Border Patrol,” Taylor said. “He’s already been deported, and he leaves a wife and a two-year-old. If our officers informed him of his constitutional rights, he would be here with his family.”
Taylor is calling on police officers to clarify that passengers may show an ID during traffic stops, if they choose.
“I asked our police leadership, ' Why do we do that? Why do we ask people to hand over their ID when they’ve not committed a crime, they’re not suspected of committing a crime, and there’s no reasonable suspicion that they’ve done anything for which we have to identify them? The response is ‘that’s proactive policing’,” Taylor said in the meeting.
Councilman Michael Radtke said he shares the mayor’s concerns about limiting cooperation with federal immigration agents.
“I’m very hesitant to cooperate in any way with border enforcement,” Radtke said. “We have not changed any policy. Right now, the only cooperation we give is if you have a federal warrant, we will hand you over, signed by a judge.”
Following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Taylor also said he’d like to pause partnerships where officers are sent to work with federal agencies like the FBI or DEA.
“The best way, I think, to do that is to pause those partnerships, reevaluate them, make sure that they’re following the same values we are, and that to the extent that we’re bringing them in to assist with drug enforcement operations, that we can trust that innocent bystanders are going to be safe,” Taylor said.
→ Ann Arbor community honors Alex Pretti as Washtenaw County restricts ICE activity
Councilman Henry Yanez said he’s not in support of the idea.
“I do not support separating from our federal partners. I want to continue that work and make sure that we continue to keep our community safe,” Yanez said.
In a statement, the city of Sterling Heights said it had “clarified” its policy that passengers who are not involved in any criminal wrongdoing and do not have a warrant will not be held by police longer than it takes to complete a traffic stop.
The city provided the following statement to Local 4:
“Sterling Heights Police Department’s top priority is, and has always been, the safety of our residents, visitors, and business community. This commitment has been central to Sterling Heights’ longstanding position as the safest large city in Michigan.
Sterling Heights Police Department is an accredited law enforcement agency certified by the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission and adheres to the highest professional standards required to obtain and maintain that accreditation.
Sterling Heights has maintained a consistent policy regarding traffic stops: all individuals are treated equally and with respect, regardless of immigration status. Our officers do not engage in racial or ethnic profiling, nor do they participate in immigration enforcement. Our focus remains solely on addressing crime that may impact our local community.
Our policy has recently been clarified to re-emphasize that if a driver is arrested and/or held for an outstanding warrant from another agency as a result of a traffic stop, passengers that are not involved in any criminal activity and do not have an arrest warrant, regardless of immigration status, are not held by the Sterling Heights Police Department longer than the time necessary to complete the traffic stop. This practice is consistent with any vehicle stop that leads to a driver’s arrest. The Sterling Heights Police Department complies with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, and this policy has proven effective in keeping our community safe and maintaining public trust.
The City Council and City Administration share the Mayor’s compassionate and humanistic position regarding our country’s current immigration enforcement actions. In fact, equitable public safety is a guiding principle for our organization. With respect to existing federal partnerships, City Administration will continue to engage in ongoing dialogue with the Mayor and City Council unless and until any changes are formally considered.
Above all, Sterling Heights remains committed to serving all residents fairly and respectfully. We will continue to enforce applicable federal, state, and local laws in a balanced and consistent manner, without regard to race, religion, or immigration status, and with a focus on maintaining trust and safety throughout our community.”
City of Sterling Heights