Metro Police Chief Pulls Plug on ICE Deal Citing Staff Shortages, Not Politics

Metro Police Chief Matt Bade is pulling the plug on an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but it's not because of politics. He says it’s simply a matter of manpower.

Why the ICE Agreement Is Ending

Metro Police, which serves Mundy Township and Swartz Creek just outside of Flint, joined a handful of Michigan departments earlier this year in partnering with ICE under a federal program that lets local officers help with immigration enforcement. The idea was to allow five Metro officers to detain individuals for ICE pickup. But with staff stretched thin, the plan never really got off the ground.

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Bade says the officers never completed the required 40 hours of ICE training, and with three of them now reassigned, it just doesn’t make sense to keep the agreement in place. For now, the department’s participation is 'on pause', and likely will stay that way for a while.

Community Reactions and What’s Next

The Flint Alliance for Immigrant Rights, which opposed the agreement from day one, called Bade’s decision a community victory, even if they don’t agree with the reasoning. They say it highlights a need for more transparency and stronger protections for immigrant families.

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Mundy Township Supervisor Jennifer Stainton, who sits on the police oversight board, says this was entirely Bade’s call. She backs him, noting that the department’s limited staff leaves few options.

How Metro’s Decision Fits Into the Bigger Picture

Michigan currently has just a few agencies participating in ICE’s local cooperation program, including departments in Jackson, Calhoun, Roscommon, Berrien, and Taylor. Metro’s exit means one fewer on that short list, and a local police force focused on keeping its officers where they’re needed most: serving Genesee County.