by Annie Lively

In the first 50 days of the new federal administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made nearly 33,000 arrests nationwide. While Ann Arbor has implemented some protective measures for undocumented residents, the escalating national enforcement climate demands that our community do more to safeguard vulnerable families.

The statistics are alarming: non-criminal detentions have increased by 221 percent between January and February 2025. Immigration officials arrested more people in the first three weeks of February than in any month over the previous seven years. Behind these numbers are real people – our neighbors, essential workers, parents, and children – whose lives hang in precarious balance.

As residents of a progressive community that values diversity and inclusion, we cannot stand idle while federal policies threaten to tear apart families who contribute significantly to our social fabric and local economy. Approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the United States, all bringing cultural, social, and economic contributions to communities like ours.

The consequences of inaction extend beyond those directly targeted. Even a one percent chance of being targeted by ICE has huge impacts on mixed status communities: that’s a one percent chance of someone’s partner, child, parent being separated from their family. No one wants to risk that chance, meaning mixed status communities are less likely to engage in normal day-to-day activities like attending school, seeing families and friends, spending local dollars, or accessing services they may need.

Children whose parents are detained or deported often experience trauma, educational disruption, and economic hardship – problems that affect our schools, social services, and community well-being. When mixed status fear interaction with local authorities, they become less likely to report crimes or cooperate with police, making our entire community less safe. 

Ann Arbor has already taken steps to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. However, as one local advocate bluntly stated, “I’ve seen ICE walk through those protections.” More robust measures are needed.

There is a practical intervention that deserves serious consideration by city leaders. The County should establish an emergency fund for families affected by immigration raids, detentions, or deportations. This could help prevent homelessness, food insecurity, and educational disruptions for children left behind. The existing “Barrier Buster” mechanism by the County could be used as a model to design a program that can meet the specific needs of these vulnerable groups.

The politicization of immigration status has created artificial divisions in our community. We must remember that immigration status is a legal construct, not a moral failing. Our undocumented neighbors are people first – people who deserve safety, dignity, and the opportunity to contribute to our community without constant fear.

Ann Arbor has long prided itself on being a beacon of progressive values. Now is the time to transform those values into tangible protections for our most vulnerable residents. Our community’s character and cohesion depend on it.