Flint Alliance for Immigrant Rights rallies Flint to oppose ICE partnership

FLINT, Michigan — On Aug. 26, at the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library, the atmosphere was charged with urgency and resolve. Members of the Flint Alliance for Immigrant Rights (FAIR), a coalition of advocates, educators, faith leaders, and community members, gathered before a crowd to denounce Metro Police Authority of Genesee County (Mundy Township and Swartz Creek’s) recent entry into a federal 287(g) taskforce agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The message was clear: this partnership, which deputizes local officers from the Metro Police Authority to act as immigration agents, has no place in Flint or the surrounding region.

For FAIR, the stakes extend far beyond policy debates. The coalition warned that the 287(g) agreement stands to erode trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, deepen racial profiling, and inflict daily fear on families who already live under the weight of uncertainty. Stories have already surfaced of local residents avoiding schools, travel, and even grocery stores out of fear that routine activities could end in detention or deportation.

By FAIR’s own estimates, more than 50 people in the county have been detained since May, a chilling figure that underscores the immediacy of their call to action.

Founded on the belief that communities thrive when no one is left behind, FAIR has long positioned itself at the intersection of education, advocacy, and care. Now, its members are demanding that county officials terminate the 287(g) agreement, commit to transparency, and hold public hearings that center on the voices of immigrants. Their demands echo a national conversation.

Flintside spoke with FAIR to explain what the 287(g) agreement means and what Flint and Genesee County residents can do to help.

Flintside: Can you share a bit about who FAIR is and what FAIR does? 

FAIR: “The Flint Alliance for Immigrant Rights (FAIR) is a coalition committed to collective action in support of immigrant communities. We build cross-sector networks of care, provide education and resources to empower our neighbors, and advocate for just policies. In the face of injustice, we stand together, grounded in the belief that our communities are strongest when no one is left behind.”

Flintside: Can you explain in plain terms what the 287(g) agreement means for Genesee County residents, especially immigrants?

FAIR: “The 287(g) taskforce agreement is part of a program that allows local law enforcement, in this case Metro Police Authority, to work directly with federal immigration agencies like ICE and CBP. Under this agreement, certain police officers are deputized to act as immigration agents. This means that they can question individuals about their immigration status, detain them, and potentially initiate the process of putting them in removal proceedings. These agreements don’t make our communities in Genesee County safer. They create fear and distrust. Additionally, many immigrants have become increasingly afraid to contact local law enforcement even when they are themselves the victim of a crime or in an emergency, because they fear that any interaction could lead to their detention or deportation.”

Flintside: What kinds of stories or experiences have you already heard from community members who fear the effects of ICE involvement locally?

FAIR: “We are already hearing from many in our community who share their concerns about this agreement. Our communities have already been deeply impacted by the insidious actions and harmful rhetoric of this administration. The reality we are all facing right now is that these forces are indeed infiltrating our community. By our own estimates, more than 50 people have been detained since May. We have to find a way to mobilize and build power to defeat them and ensure the safety of our immigrant communities.”

Flintside: Of the seven demands you are presenting, which do you see as the most urgent for county officials to act on first?

FAIR: “The most pressing of our demands is ending the 287 (g) taskforce agreement. This has the most immediate harmful impact on our communities. We know that this is possible with enough community support. We saw an example of this earlier this year in Delaware. The agreement was rescinded because enough members of the community made it clear that this was not acceptable.” 

Flintside: How do you plan to hold local officials accountable if they do not meet your calls for transparency and public hearings?

FAIR: “We will keep ensuring that community voices are heard. We will keep rallying, raising awareness, educating residents, and [pushing] for our local officials to be held accountable when constituents go to the polls. We want people who share our values, and we are not interested in politicians who are unwilling to speak up for the most vulnerable of us.”

Flintside: How does Flint and Genesee County’s situation compare to other communities across Michigan or the U.S?

FAIR: “Flint and Genesee County’s situation is not unique. In January, there were roughly 130 of these 287 (g) agreements in the U.S., and now that number is nearing 900. We are seeing this kind of increased ICE presence throughout the country, and now it is at our doorstep. And this is why we, as a community, have to take a clear stand at this moment.”

Flintside: What can residents in Flint and Genesee County do to help and support FAIR and immigrants living here? 

FAIR: “Residents can take action in a number of meaningful ways. They can join the coalition, get involved in our work directly, and support our work in other ways, such as helping us share “Know Your Rights” information so that immigrant families are aware of the protections available to them. Have conversations with your neighbors, both to inform others and to continue informing yourself, because awareness and understanding are key to building safer communities. You can also support us by helping to plan local actions and by reaching out to your congressional leaders to demand policies that protect immigrant communities. Finally, follow us on social media to stay updated and share relevant information widely.”

Flintside: What message do you hope to send to immigrant families living with fear of deportation?

FAIR: “We want immigrant families to know that they are not alone. There are organizations, faith leaders, educators, and caring neighbors that are here to stand with you and fight for your safety. The message is that your safety matters, your families matter, and we will not stay silent while policies threaten to tear our communities apart.”

Flinside: What long-term vision does FAIR have for building a safer and more welcoming Genesee County for immigrant communities?

FAIR: “Our long-term vision is for a Genesee County where immigrants feel safe, supported, and respected. Beyond speaking out against harmful policies in the here and now, we want to build a sustainable network of community members that will continue to push for change so immigrant families can thrive for generations. FAIR wants to see resources invested in protecting immigrant families, such as access to education, health care, housing, and legal support, rather than in policies that do our community harm.”

To learn more about and get involved with the Flint Alliance for Immigrant Rights, visit their website.