Flint, Mi –
On Wednesday, March 18, a proposal to restrict ICE enforcement on Genesee County property is expected to be discussed by the Board of Commissioners, as community activists continue to apply pressure and county officials weigh legal concerns.
The resolution, written and proposed by People Powered Flint‘s Brandi Purtill was introduced during the same meeting where commissioners debated the future of FLOCK cameras in Genesee County.
If adopted, the resolution would limit when federal immigration authorities can operate on county property. This would require a valid judicial warrant or court order in most cases and restrict cooperation from county employees.
Discussion at the meeting suggested commissioners are not outright opposed, but cautious.
Commissioners largely withheld their opinions during the initial discussion, as the conversation revolved around a key question: Can we legally do this?
Commissioner Shaun Shumaker raised concerns about whether a local government could even restrict a federal agency. Legal counsel noted the issue remains unclear and may ultimately depend on how federal immigration law is interpreted nationally.
Although similar policies exist elsewhere, legal counsel cautioned that the national legal landscape remains uncertain.
People Powered Flint, is continuing to push for a successful passing of the resolution and are preparing additional legal arguments ahead of the next meeting, taking into consideration what the council discussed so far.
A protest is planned before the upcoming session on March 18, where supporters are encouraged to speak again.
For now, commissioners appear to be weighing both the policy and its legal implications before deciding how to move forward.
