The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Washtenaw County, saying several county policies make it harder for federal immigration officials to carry out immigration enforcement.
The lawsuit names Washtenaw County, the Board of Commissioners, Sheriff Alyshia Dyer, the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, Prosecutor Eli Savit and the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office. It challenges policies that limit how county officials work with federal immigration authorities, including the sheriff’s office’s refusal to hold people for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, based only on requests that were not signed by a judge. The lawsuit also challenges limits on sharing information with immigration officials and the county board’s January “ICE-free zones” resolution, which bars immigration enforcement activity on county-owned property without a judicial warrant.
In a statement provided to The Sun Times News on behalf of the prosecutor’s office, Washtenaw County Corporation Counsel Michelle Billard said the county disputes the federal government’s claims.
“Washtenaw County is aware that the Department of Justice has filed a complaint against the Board of Commissioners, the Prosecutor, and the Sheriff,” Billard wrote. “We strongly disagree with the characterization of our policies and are confident that our policies are firmly grounded in constitutional principles.”
Billard also said the county “remains resolutely committed to public safety, enforcing the law, and protecting all members of our community” and “will vigorously defend the County’s policies in court.”
According to the lawsuit, the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office did not honor 40 ICE requests in 2025 asking the jail to keep people in custody for possible immigration enforcement.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
114 North Main St Suite 10 Chelsea, MI 48118
