Detroit council members seek ways to limit ICE, ban law officers from wearing masks

Louis Aguilar, The Detroit News on Feb 3, 2026

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DETROIT — Two Detroit City Council members are exploring ways to potentially limit or ban federal immigration enforcement activity in the city, while another member wants to know if the city could prevent law enforcement officers from wearing masks and not identifying themselves during public interactions.

Two memorandums were introduced Tuesday, along with two requests, directing the city's corporation counsel, and the council's legislative policy division, to research and essentially determine if the city has the legal right to pass ordinances to restrict Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city.

The measures may or may not result in something the council could vote on at a later date.

Councilwoman Mary Waters has introduced a memorandum that would mandate "all entities engaged in law enforcement activities in Detroit . . . provide proper identification to residents when exercising their powers."

The potential ordinance will make it a local misdemeanor for "law enforcement officers to not provide proper identification, including their name, badge number, and/or a clear, unobstructed view of their face. " Exceptions are provided for classified and undercover officers.

In another memorandum, Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero wants the city to legally determine whether it can "ban or limit ICE activity" in Detroit.

"The City of Detroit needs to enact and enforce such policies that can protect Detroiters frompreventable suffering and death at the hands of the federal government," reads the memorandum. The letter was supported by Councilman Coleman Young.

The memorandum references the Jan. 7 shooting death in Minneapolis of Renee Nicole Good by ICE officers.

There was no council discussion about the memorandums Tuesday.

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