Under the Trump administration, ICE enforcement has intensified across the US with targeted arrests and increased activity in communities. This enforcement has led to major increases in arrests, widespread fear, and death. This enforcement is reaching far beyond people with criminal convictions. In July, the majority of the approximately 49,000 people arrested by ICE had no criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, and less than 4% had a past violent criminal conviction.
Here in Michigan, ICE arrested 2,349 people from Jan. through Oct. 2025, nearly tripling the number of arrests in the same period the year prior. Meanwhile, people held in the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin have reported serious concerns about legal representation and access to emergency and routine medical care.
Here’s how to fight back against ICE and protect immigrant communities in Michigan:
Sign the petition
Join immigrant rights, civil rights, faith, labor, environmental justice, and community organizations in calling on Governor Whitmer to stand with immigrant communities. Learn more & sign here.
Oppose 287(g) agreements
Several law enforcement agencies across Michigan have entered 287(g) agreements, which are formal partnerships between local police and federal immigration authorities that allow local law enforcement officers to perform federal immigration duties. The share of people detained through the program is around 14% nationwide.
These agreements can be terminated at any time. You can contact your local officials, such as the sheriff’s office, and urge them to rescind existing agreements or commit not to enter into one.
Attend an event
Attend a rally, town hall, fundraiser, volunteer event, or community gathering:
- Join the Whistle Kit Making & Art Build Making Night with Rising Voices and Detroit Asian Collective on Sept. 17, from 6-8 p.m. in Detroit to assemble multilingual warning whistle kits.
- Protest against the ICE detention center, the North Lake Processing Center, in Baldwin on Sept. 26, from 12-2 p.m.
Get connected
Find additional resources by joining the network of groups and organizations advocating for immigrant communities statewide:
- ACLU of Michigan provides know your rights guides, actions and training, and more.
- The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC) is a legal resource center for Michigan’s immigrant communities.
- No Detention Centers in Michigan is a statewide coalition building power through collective action to abolish immigration detention and migrant incarceration.
- The Coalition to Shut the Camps leads rallies and community protests demanding political action against new detention facilities in Michigan.
Be ready to vote
Use the tool below to register, verify your registration status, find your polling place, and access key voting information.
