Two police officers have been suspended without pay by the Detroit Police Department on the allegation that they violated policy by contacting federal immigration authorities during traffic stops.
In a vote Thursday evening, the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners chose to punish the police officer and sergeant for contacting Border Patrol agents on two occasions, with the end goal of firing both law enforcement officials, according to WXYZ Detroit.
The move comes a year into President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigrants in the United States and as more local police departments than at any other time have opted to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection make arrests in communities, even as police departments controlled by some progressive local governments refuse to help with enforcement.
In one incident on Dec. 16, 2025, the Detroit officer contacted Border Patrol agents while conducting a traffic stop. Border Patrol has hundreds of agents based out of the Detroit area, given its border with Canada.
In the incident involving the sergeant on Feb. 9, the sergeant contacted Border Patrol for help with translation during a traffic stop involving a Spanish-speaking driver, rather than using the local police department’s 24-hour translation hotline.
In both cases, the individuals pulled over went on to be detained by CBP for federal immigration violations.
Although Detroit is not a sanctuary city, the police department forbids its employees from working with federal police who enforce immigration laws. Detroit police officers are not allowed to ask about a person’s immigration status during questioning.
Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said he intends to fire both employees, including the sergeant, who has been with the force for 27 years.
“Contacting Border Patrol, ICE, or other federal agencies for translation services is strictly prohibited,” Bettison said.
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Any termination is required to go to a command hearing, and that process can take up to three weeks, WXYZ reported.
One of the Detroit police employees who was suspended, Sgt. Denise Wallet, filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming she did not violate the department’s policy. Wallet maintains that she contacted the Border Patrol at the direction of her lieutenant and is requesting a jury trial.
