Feds Sue Washtenaw Co. Over Immigration Enforcement Policies

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 04/10/2026) The federal government wants a court order invalidating Washtenaw County officials’ policy outlining law enforcement’s response to immigration efforts.

The complaint, filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court’s Eastern District, alleges local officials’ actions “undermine federal immigration laws and federal law enforcement” by shielding undocumented immigrants from Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers and by not sharing immigration information with federal authorities.

“Washtenaw County’s policies aim to obstruct federal law enforcement and celebrate thwarting the constitutional obligation of the President of the United States to take care that federal immigration law be faithfully executed,” the complaint from U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Director Robert O. Lindefjeld reads.

“… Such blatant disregard for federal laws that have been on the books for over three decades is not merely a political statement but is also deliberate action that jeopardizes the public safety of all Americans,” Lindefjeld added.

The lawsuit names as defendants Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia M. Dyer, Prosecutor Eli Savit and the county Board of Commissioners.

A message seeking comment from Savit, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for attorney general, was not returned.

Michelle Billard, corporation counsel for the sheriff’s office, said the county is aware of the complaint, saying the department will “vigorously defend” its policies and remains a welcoming and safe community for all residents, including its immigrant residents.

“We strongly disagree with the characterization of our policies and are confident that our policies are firmly grounded in constitutional principles,” Billard told MIRS. “The County remains resolutely committed to public safety, enforcing the law, and protecting all members of our community.”

Since taking office again in January 2025, President Donald Trump has focused on immigration efforts by declaring an emergency exists.

The complaint alleges that Dyer’s office declared federal immigration wasn’t “an investigative or law enforcement role or activity of the Sheriff’s Office” and that her department will not detail individuals solely due to an immigration detainer or warrant by ICE “when there is no valid judicial warrant or order by a judge.”

Savit’s order, the complaint alleges, is similar, instructing county assistant prosecutors to structure plea offers, eliminate multiple counts in criminal charging documents and using language that “avoid(s) triggering immigration consequences.”

The complaint calls Savit’s order a “nefarious roadmap” that allows Washtenaw County prosecutors to “shirk their reporting obligations to federal immigration officials.”

The complaint claims the Board of Commissioners’ January resolution banning ICE agents from county buildings unless they have a judicial warrant is likewise an effort to impair ICE agents.