The struggle against ICE hit home for Genesee County in Michigan, but the people stood tall in opposing it. Outside Flint, in Swartz Creek and Mundy Township, the Metropolitan Police Authority of Genesee County signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE. However, the people united against it, forcing Metro Police to rescind the agreement.
What is a 287(g) agreement?
The 287(g) program allows agreements to be signed between ICE and local police agencies in order to empower local police to carry out immigration enforcement. The agreements come in three forms: the jail enforcement model, the warrant officer model and the task force model, which is the most egregious as it allows local police to carry out immigration enforcement as part of their routine patrols in the community. Critically these agreements only lead to increased racial and linguistic profiling of community members because there is no way for local police to know the legal status of an individual by sight, other than by profiling.
These agreements which came into existence in the 1990s have skyrocketed during the current Trump administration. There are currently more than 1,000 agreements in place, and Michigan has just seen another two signed in the last week: one in Macomb County in the outer ring suburbs of Detroit and one in West Branch.
How 287(g) reached Genesee County
In July, Chief Matt Bade of the Metro Police signed a 287(g) agreement to have officers trained in the task force model of the agreement. After attending a conference where he learned of the program, Bade signed the agreement with zero input from the community or police board. Bade claimed that he did not need the approval of the police board, asserting the agreement fell under operations.
When we fight, we win
However, on Oct. 22, Bade announced that the agreement had been rescinded citing “workforce constraints” as three of the five officers scheduled to be trained were described as having received new duties which made them unavailable to complete the training. But we know the real story is people powered!
The people of Genesee County were galvanized by the Trump administration’s attacks on the working class across the country. When the war on immigrants came to their door, they were ready to channel their protest into coordinated political action. The movement in Genesee County has a multi-generational character and spans the entire county. The barriers that usually divide communities were circumvented: people who don’t usually come across the river to North Flint, did so for regular organizing meetings and demonstrations.
The attacks on immigrants led to the creation of the Flint Alliance for Immigrant Rights. This alliance brought people together through outreach efforts, know your rights trainings, and regular organizing meetings. The budding organization was a key component that transformed outrage into action.
After the agreement was signed in July, FAIR responded with a press conference, denouncing the 287(g) agreement and drawing a large crowd. Every monthly Metro Police Authority board meeting since has seen a packed room and public comment periods flooded with community members condemning ICE’s racist attacks and Bade’s unilateral decision. Talking points were collectively written and shared with the community.
For the past two months, FAIR and the Party for Socialism and Liberation gathered with community members at Flint’s Neighborhood Engagement Hub to study 287(g) agreements, how they’ve been defeated in the past and the national movement for community defense of immigrant families. That study and theory was turned into the action that led to the rescission of Metro Police’s collaboration with ICE.
Victory today, struggle tomorrow
The billionaires and politicians on both the national and local level are counting on working-class communities to hide and cower, but the people of Genesee County just demonstrated that when we fight, we win. Chief Bade made it clear the agreement could be revisited and this victory has only encouraged the community to keep fighting. Since the agreement was rescinded, community members have conducted immigrant defense outreach, continued to plan know your rights trainings and more.
The people understand that the attack on immigrants is just one prong in the escalating war on the working class. While our healthcare, education, housing, food and communities are under attack, we must find our way back to each other — to unite around the fight for humanity. The Trump administration is attacking our basic human needs and bringing violence into our communities. This community showed that when we respond with multi-national, working-class unity, and an organized fight-back, we win.
ICE OUT OF GENESEE COUNTY! ICE OUT OF EVERYWHERE!
Feature photo: Community members in Genesee County, Michigan, attend an organizing meeting strategizing to fight back against the 287(g) agreement, just hours after the No Kings Day rally on Oct. 18. Liberation photo
