Oakland County commissioners won't vote on a proposed policy banning federal immigration civil enforcement on county property without a warrant.
A petition to bring a vote failed by 11-7 during the Oakland County Board of Commissioners meeting Thursday, Oct. 15.
The language in the draft specified that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers "shall not be permitted to enter, remain in, or conduct civil immigration enforcement activities" in Oakland County buildings or property like parking lots without a warrant. The policy would prohibit county employees from assisting or cooperating with civil immigration enforcement activities while on county property.
Charlie Cavell, a Democratic county commissioner who represents a south Oakland County district including Berkley and Ferndale, proposed a motion to bring the policy before the board.
“We have not passed legal aid for immigrants. We have not passed food aid to support immigrants … this is the least we can do,” said Cavell.
Bob Hoffman, a Republican commissioner who represents a district in north Oakland County including Holly and Brandon, also supported the discharge petition.
"Illegal immigration is not the cause. It’s the effect of a broken immigration system," Hoffman said. "If the local police departments did some of the things that ICE does, they’d be charged with excessive force and some would be charged with murder."
Several commissioners who are Democrats expressed concerns about the enforceability of the policy.
Tim O'Hara of Rochester who supported the policy banning ICE from operating on county property, admonished the Democratic majority on the board, saying the members "refused to consider the most basic protections for its most vulnerable constituents."
A similar policy banning immigration enforcement on county property had been adopted in nearby Washtenaw County. In August, a federal judge dismissed a federal government challenge to the policy.