Sheriff Clarifies After Trump Visit
After a deadly shooting in Kent County, Michigan, last month that was allegedly committed by an illegal immigrant, the county’s Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young has come under scrutiny for her department’s policy on holding illegal immigrants for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to a recent letter obtained by The Daily Wire, Sheriff LaJoye-Young has attempted to clarify the department’s policy and requested that the county be removed from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) list of “sanctuary” cities, counties, and states.
The shooting, which claimed the life of 25-year-old Ruby Garcia, was allegedly committed by 25-year-old Brandon Ortiz-Vite, who had been deported under the Trump administration in 2020 and re-entered the U.S. unlawfully at an unknown date. Following the incident, ICE confirmed that they had identified and deported Ortiz-Vite, raising questions about how he had been able to re-enter the country and commit the heinous crime.
As a result, the controversy surrounding Kent County’s status as a “sanctuary” county has escalated, with many calling for stricter policies on holding illegal immigrants. In an attempt to clarify her department’s stance, Sheriff LaJoye-Young sent multiple letters to CIS last week.
The letters outlined the department’s current policy, stating that they will hold inmates for ICE if they are presented with a judicial warrant or an I-247 request, signed by an authorized immigration officer, and an I-200 administrative warrant for the arrest of an alien signed by an authorized immigration officer. The sheriff emphasized that the department conducts a thorough review to confirm the authority to detain the inmate before proceeding with the hold.
This letter appears to be a change in policy from 2019 when Sheriff LaJoye-Young informed ICE that Kent County would only hold detainees with a judicial warrant issued by a federal judge or magistrate, a move that resulted in ICE terminating its contract with the county. This change sparked controversy, with then-President Donald Trump accusing the county of being a “sanctuary” for illegal immigrants. LaJoye-Young defended her department’s decision, stating that Trump was “dramatically misrepresenting” their policy.
However, the backlash and criticism intensified after the recent shooting, leading to the department’s policy shift back to respecting ICE detainer requests. As Trump visits Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Tuesday, where he is expected to address illegal immigration and the murder of Garcia, some see this policy change as an acknowledgment of the seriousness of the issue.
In response to the controversy, the Kent County Sheriff’s Department released a statement affirming that the county is not a sanctuary county and never has been. They clarified that the policy requiring an arrest warrant issued by a federal judge or magistrate was implemented after ICE terminated their contract and that the change was reviewed internally in 2020. The department states that the new procedures effective January 2020 simply added stipulations related to internal review and documentation to hold the detainee.
In light of the latest policies, Republicans in Michigan have proposed legislation that would prohibit municipalities from implementing sanctuary policies that restrict cooperation with federal agencies like ICE on issues related to illegal immigration. Republican Leader Matt Hall, who represents part of Kalamazoo County in Michigan, where there are similar policies in place, commended the policy shift in Kent County, stating that it “moves in the right direction for the safety and security of local residents.” He called on other sanctuary jurisdictions in Michigan to reevaluate and remove their own policies as well.