By Sam Robinson, Senior Reporter
Former Detroit police chief and mayoral candidate James Craig is defending President Donald Trump’s move to send the military to quell protests in Los Angeles opposing federal immigration enforcement.
“The scenes unfolding in Los Angeles underscore what happens when leadership is weak and hesitant,” Craig said in a statement to Michigan Chronicle. “A mayor and governor’s primary duty is to protect their citizens and ensure the stability of their communities. Detroiters deserve a mayor who has a proven track record of doing just that.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom sued the Trump administration Monday for deploying the National Guard without his approval. The Trump administration actions are happening under a federal law that allows the president to command state National Guard troops without the permission of the governor.
Craig, the former police chief now running for Detroit mayor, could not be reached before publication of this story.
Craig worked in California as an officer for the Los Angeles Police Department after being laid off by the Detroit Police Department in 1981. He returned to Detroit after being appointed as police chief, serving in the role from 2013 to 2020. His run for governor as a Republican in 2022 was foiled by a signature fraud scandal that disqualified a number of Republican candidates.
“As mayor, I will ‘double down’ on neighborhood safety and continue to prioritize community policing, ensuring our city is prepared for any challenge,” Craig said. “My focus will always be on preventing chaos and maintaining the peace that allows our residents to thrive and our business to prosper.”
Advocates representing several anti-fascist organizations opposing Trump’s use of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines in Los Angeles came to Detroit City Council Tuesday to urge members to adopt a resolution separating the city from the Trump administration.
Their resolution states, “that the Detroit City Council opposes any cooperation with any plan to alter police-community relations in our City” through Trump’s executive order, “and opposes any deployment of military forces on the streets of our City…”
While advocates who came to council Tuesday said the city should declare itself a “sanctuary city,” Mayor Mike Duggan, as well as council member Gabriela Santiago-Romero, have argued declaring the city a “sanctuary city” would put an unnecessary target on the city and its undocumented residents.
Santiago-Romero represents Southwest Detroit, which is home to a significant number of undocumented immigrants.
A sanctuary city is one where local law enforcement do not operate with federal immigration enforcement. Law enforcement in sanctuary cities, such as Chicago and Los Angeles, have refused to comply with ICE agents attempting deportations.
Though Santiago-Romero agreed with Duggan publicly back in April, the website for her reelection campaign lists advocating for “the designation of Detroit as a sanctuary city.”
While agents have historically been present and visible in Southwest Detroit and throughout the city, residents in the area have been on edge since President Donald Trump took office. H\e has promised to deport non-citizens, regardless of whether they are committing crimes.
Chris Gilmer Hill, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America’s Detroit chapter, called into council Tuesday to urge the body to stand up to the president.
“The president of the US is illegally deploying US Marines on the streets of Los Angeles,” Gilmer-Hill said. “There may have been a time to quibble over semantic distinctions, whether we want to be welcoming or sanctuary. That time is not right now. Right now, we need our council to do the right thing for all Detroiters by passing this resolution standing up to Trump’s fascist policies.”
Protests against ICE activity are scheduled for 1pm Saturday, June 14 at Clark Park, hosted by the Detroit Anti-War Committee, Detroit Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Detroit Comité De Acción Comunitaria.
While advocates and activists are ramping up their vocal opposition to ICE, three Michigan Democrats voted with Republicans in Congress this week for a House Resolution to “express gratitude” to ICE agents and call for greater cooperation. Those lawmakers include, Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit, Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham and Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says she’s “ready to vigorously fight back against any illegal federalization of our National Guard or the unwarranted invitation of the military onto Michigan streets.”
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined 21 other Democratic governors over the weekend, calling Trump’s move “an alarming abuse of power.”
Nationwide and across the state, thousands are set to hit the streets in protest of Trump’s administration, what organizers are calling “No Kings Day.”
About Post Author
