Trump administration flags 6 MI counties, 2 cities as ‘sanctuary communities’ 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released late Thursday a list of counties and municipalities across the nation it says are failing to comply with federal immigration laws and work with federal immigration authorities to remove those in the United States illegally.

On the list were Ann Arbor and East Lansing, plus Kalamazoo, Kent, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford counties.

The inclusion of Wexford was a surprise. The staunchly conservative, Republican county was supposedly removed as a sanctuary jurisdiction in April following mass confusion for months on the topic. Sen. Michele Hoitenga (R-Manton), who represents the county, said on April 18 the Center for Immigration Studies removed its sanctuary designation for Wexford.

“Legal immigration is a welcome part of our communities and economy in Northern Michigan, but this designation of Wexford County as a sanctuary jurisdiction for illegal immigrants was inappropriate, unwelcomed and immediately rejected by local residents,” Hoitenga said in a statement in April. “My team worked with local and federal officials to get this inaccurate report removed from the organization’s listings, and I’m glad to see it gone. Wexford’s removal from this disgraceful list is a victory for law-abiding residents.”

But the U.S. Department of Homeland Security included Wexford on a list it published Thursday night.

“These sanctuary city politicians are endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “We are exposing these sanctuary politicians who harbor criminal illegal aliens and defy federal law. President Trump and I will always put the safety of the American people first. Sanctuary politicians are on notice: comply with federal law.”

DHS said each jurisdiction will receive formal notification of its noncompliance and a demand to immediately review and revise their policies.