Several Wayne County residents and advocacy group representatives used the public‑comment period to urge the commission to oppose 287(g) agreements, which allow local law‑enforcement agencies to contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to carry out certain immigration enforcement activities.

William Cochlin, a member of Western Wayne Indivisible, said the organization circulated a proposed resolution opposing 287(g) agreements and asked the commission to go on record recommending all local agencies decline such arrangements. “We understand that this commission does not control any law enforcement agencies, including the county sheriff,” Cochlin said, but the group asked the commission to publicly oppose 287(g) agreements and recommend against their adoption by local agencies.

Joan Pence, lead of Western Wayne Indivisible, said local adoption of such agreements would cause fear in immigrant communities and urged a “bold and important stand” by the commission. Pence raised concerns about reports of aggressive federal tactics, and called on the commission to adopt the offered resolution to protect vulnerable residents.

Kimberly Crafton, a Wayne County resident, gave a personal account of an adult family member who attended an immigration court hearing in Boston and was taken into custody by ICE afterward and deported. Crafton said such actions separate families and can affect long‑term residents who have long ties to U.S. communities.

How the commission responded: The chair acknowledged the speakers and said the offered resolution would be taken under consideration for a future meeting. Commissioners expressed sympathy and asked staff to consider next steps; no formal county policy or resolution was adopted during the public‑comment period.

Why it matters: 287(g) agreements are controversial because they shift certain federal immigration enforcement responsibilities to local partners. Local resolutions opposing 287(g) have symbolic and political value even where they cannot legally bind separately elected agencies such as a county sheriff.