Washtenaw County, Michigan sheriff retracts claims after reports of ICE activity near school bus stops

Initial statements suggested parents were targeted near bus stops before sheriff said later reports were unsubstantiated

YPSILANTI, Mich.- Washtenaw County, Michigan Sheriff Alyshia Dyer is walking back earlier suggestions that immigration enforcement activity may have targeted parents at school bus stops in Ypsilanti, saying reports of additional activity were unfounded and that federal agents did not operate on school grounds.

The original comments by Sheryff Dyer caused a commotions and immediately got the attention of the legacy media:

In a Facebook post update dated Jan. 29, Sheriff Alyshia Dyer said she spoke directly with immigration enforcement leadership, who confirmed agents were in Washtenaw County on Jan. 27 but did not conduct enforcement on school property or at bus stops. She said agents also agreed to improve communication when leaving the county.

The Detroit News did write an article letting readers know the sheriff gave inacurate information. Will other media? We shall see.

The clarification followed a statement posted a day earlier in which the sheriff said her office had received multiple reports from community members claiming U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained a mother in front of her child near Ypsilanti and that parents connected to local schools appeared to be targeted near bus stops during student drop off times.

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While emphasizing that no activity occurred on school grounds, the earlier post said enforcement actions did take place near bus stops and described the situation as deeply disturbing, particularly for children. The sheriff also criticized ICE for a lack of communication and said such actions undermined students’ sense of safety.

In her updated statement, the sheriff said reports of ICE activity on Jan. 28, including rumors of agents near schools and a local hotel, were not accurate. She said no known incidents occurred that day and confirmed that the additional reports were rumors.

The sheriff reiterated that her office does not ask about immigration status or participate in immigration enforcement and said her department would continue to support immigrant families in the community.

She also highlighted pending Michigan Senate Bills 508 through 510, which would seek to protect sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals and places of worship from immigration enforcement actions.

The sheriff said she is continuing to seek additional information about the events of Jan. 27 and will provide further updates as they become available.