Progressive organizations in Michigan are criticizing Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan for labeling people without legal status as “illegal newcomers.”
” The Mayor’s use of the I-word is unacceptable, dehumanizing, and an affront to Detroit’s historic immigrant communities”, read the statement, which was signed by the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, 1 Michigan for the Global Majority, the American Bureau for Immigration and Social Affairs, American Citizens for Justice, the Caribbean Community Services Center, Rising Accents, MI Poder, and One Michigan for Immigrant Rights.  ,
In a town with a majority of Black and brown people, we would expect that our president did not respond to prejudiced speech and remain with the many other mayors who are fighting to defend the individuals they serve, according to Angela Reyes, executive chairman of the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation.
The organizations were responding to Duggan’s news last week that he did lead Detroit in working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to reduce “illegal refugees who have committed offences.” The president, a long-time Democrat, also stated that Detroit “is not a monastery town.”
Duggan made the remarks as the Trump administration intensifies attempts to arrest persons who are in the country without legal immigration and have committed atrocities. Tausses of these people have already been removed as a result of ICE businesses nationwide.
The expat advocacy groups claimed on Wednesday that Duggan’s language “violated” the Detroit reputation as a “hospitable city,” which the activists claimed meant that “local state management does not make public statements immediately attacking individuals or groups on the basis of their immigration position.”
” Mayor Duggan has violated that tenet”, the teams said. ” At a time when immigrant Detroiters are under attack and need the support of their elected officials, the Mayor’s comments are unacceptable”.
In a statement released on Thursday, Duggan rebutted the accusations, calling them “political correctness” and claiming that his job with ICE to eliminate illegal refugees from Detroit was the same position he held under previous governments, including the Obama White House.  ,
” During my name as Mayor, Detroit has been a loving town, where we support the success of newcomers”, Duggan told the Washington Examiner. However, we should not and do not protect you from federal police when Detroit officers make a criminal imprisonment and DPD receives national notification that the man in custody is in the nation illegally.
” Organizations who oppose this position are criticizing me immediately over the political correctness of my remarks, but I do not forgive for providing a clear description of Detroit’s place”, the governor continued. ” It is a position we have followed consistently through the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations”.
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In comments at the 2025 Detroit Policy Conference last Thursday,  , Duggan said that being a “welcoming city” does not equal being a sanctuary refuge for’ illegal immigrants. ”  ,
We encourage you to come to this country if you are already here legally as an immigrant. We support your success. If you are in this country illegally, we should not be shielding you from ICE and federal enforcement, and the city of Detroit does not do so, “he added.
