GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom said his officers will not be arresting or detaining people solely on the basis of an immigration violation.
Winstrom made the comment Thursday, Jan. 23, during a Grand Rapids City Commission retreat.
His statement came as President Donald Trump looks to crack down on illegal immigration and possibly conduct mass deportations.
“The Grand Rapids Police Department is not in the business of immigration enforcement, period,” Winstrom said.
“We want people to feel comfortable calling 911, especially victims coming forward, without the fear of information regarding their documentation status being provided to immigration authorities,” he said
“We are not to inquire about immigration status. We’re not asking about it. Even if it was proactively provided to us, we are prohibited from detaining based on immigration status,”
“We’ve made it clear to them, as well, that there’s a very clear dividing line. We’re going to be doing our job, and it’s not going to be doing their job,” he said.
Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom on Thursday, Jan. 23, said his officers would not be arresting people for immigration violations.
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