Michigan Supreme Court considers limits on courthouse immigration arrests

Source: AP

Updated 2:16 PM EST, December 4, 2025


Law enforcement would be barred from making civil arrests — including immigration arrests of suspected noncitizens — in state and local courtrooms under a proposal being considered by the Michigan Supreme Court.

The proposed rule change announced last month would prohibit civil arrests of people “attending a court proceeding or having legal business” in any of Michigan’s trial or appellate courthouses. The rule as written would not interfere with criminal or court-ordered arrests.

If adopted, the amendment would add Michigan to the list of states attempting to limit immigration arrests following court proceedings, which have ramped up in recent months as President Donald Trump’s administration cracks down on illegal immigration enforcement.

States don’t have jurisdiction over what happens in immigration courts, which are federal property, and cannot bar arrests there. But advocates argue Michigan should join New York, Connecticut, Illinois and other states in limiting arrests in local courts, which they contend could deter immigrants from attending court hearings.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/immigration-donald-trump-donald-trump-es-michigan-courts-d227ec55f8e7bf3ae6531505bbc72574