ADRIAN — Two days after a large crowd of people watched federal immigration agents arrest two men in the parking lot across from Comstock Park, Adrian residents filled the June 16 city commission meeting urging the city to protect residents’ right to due process under the law.

The public comment portion of Adrian City Commission usually draws no more than a few participants, but about two dozen people spoke at the June 16 meeting. They described watching the men get arrested and taken away in unmarked vehicles. They talked about friends and neighbors being targeted. One played audio from a recording of family members’ anguished reaction to the arrest.

The arrests took place on the morning of June 14. A video shot by a witness shows multiple men, at least one of whom had a firearm visible, ordering two men to get out of their pickup truck. They can also be seen refusing to answer bystanders’ shouted questions about whether they had a warrant, and witnesses said the agents threatened to break their windows and drag the men out of the truck.

They drove several vehicles that had flashing lights but standard Michigan license plates and no visible law enforcement markings. One of the vehicles, a Ram pickup, had a green 2024 tag on its plate instead of an orange 2025 one.

After Monday’s city commission meeting, Adrian police chief and acting city administrator Vince Emrick told the Lenawee Voice that an officer on the scene, who was there because of a protest across the street at Comstock Park, was approached by the agents, and that they identified themselves as immigration officials. A police lieutenant then asked Lenawee County dispatchers to call the immigration office and confirm that agents had been sent there.

However, witnesses did not know this at the time. As a result, in addition to being shocked by the aggressive display of force, many said they were afraid they were watching a vigilante kidnapping.

Among the two dozen people who spoke at Monday’s city commission meeting was Karin Barbee of Adrian.

“Adrian is home to many immigrants, the majority of whom are following the rules and attempting to gain citizenship,” she said. “We’re talking about friends, students, and co-workers who contribute enormously to our community and economy.” 

She continued, “The immigration process is complicated, and many simply have not yet completed the legal requirements. But for most, their mere existence in this country and in this city is not a crime. And while we might want to assume that those aren’t the ones being swept up in violent, unconstitutional mass arrests, we would be wrong. There are quotas to meet, and this is no longer about keeping people safe.”

Some speakers said that while immigration enforcement is nothing new, what is new is the level of secrecy, aggression and cruelty displayed in recent arrests.

“Past administrations including Obama’s and Biden’s deported millions, but they followed the procedure,” said Allie Quinn of Adrian. “There were warrants, uniforms, accountability. What we saw on Saturday wasn’t immigration enforcement, it was a kidnapping.”

“Everyone on U.S. soil has rights,” she added. “Everyone. That is not radical. That is the Constitution.”

Marcie Van Black of Deerfield noted that after the arrests, the distraught wife of one of the men couldn’t even get back into her vehicle, and Adrian police had to unlock it. In addition, she said, “this poor woman is on dialysis and has no one to take care of her.  Is this really how we want to treat our neighbors?”

Katey Morgan of Adrian described the fear of not even knowing who the men ordering two people to get out of their vehicle were.

“You can buy fake ICE vests on Amazon and get it shipped to you on Prime and get it the next day, so the fact that individuals are able to approach someone, threaten to pull them out of their vehicle if they don’t get out voluntarily, and not have to provide a warrant or any proof of their claimed authority, is very scary,” she said.

Morgan said that anyone who can’t look at the arrests from a humanitarian angle should think of the economic impact. 

“These people contribute a lot to our economy,” she said. “They spend money here, they live here.”

Aaron Chesher of Adrian said the people of Adrian have demanded respect for civil rights throughout the city’s history.

“In the 1800s, Laura Smith Haviland helped enslaved people escape to freedom,” he said. “When armed men came to her home, she told them ‘I fear neither your weapons nor your threats.’ Later, our Governor Croswell, a former mayor of Adrian, led the ratification of the 13th Amendment, reformed prisons, and governed with honor and restraint. We have never waited for permission to do what is right.”

Chesher asked for a formal investigation into the arrests, leading to publication of a transparent report. He also asked the commission to pass a due process ordinance guaranteeing that no Adrian resident can be detained without a warrant, legal counsel, and a court review.

Nancy Pellowe of Adrian said her youngest son was born in South Korea, and “never in my life did I think I would have to have his naturalization photos on my phone just in case.”

Joaquin Ramos of Adrian told commissioners, “I hope that you’ll take this to heart, see the pain and the fear in people’s eyes, and work to make Adrian a safer and better place.”

Mayor Angela Sword Heath told the speakers that she understands and shares their feelings.

“You have been heard,” she said.

“We are aware,” she added. “Our hearts are heavy. That’s why it’s very quiet up here. I’m telling you, we understand, we just — we’re going to have that discussion and explore. We don’t know what we can do and can’t do.”

Heath said she had the same reaction to watching the arrests that many of the speakers did.

“I watched the video and was very scared,” she said. “And I watched it again, and I watched it again, because it was very frightening.”

The Voice asked Emrick by email if the Adrian Police Department has any policies about Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.

“We have a mutual aid agreement with all Lenawee agencies, but nothing specific for assistance to federal agencies,” he replied. “If a request is made it is routed through central dispatch to our patrol supervisor.  A decision to assist is then made based on several factors. In this instance an officer was approached because they were present. That officer contacted the shift supervisor. ICE carried out their arrest without assistance. Our involvement was in the aftermath unlocking the vehicle.”

One local resource for anyone who needs help with immigration issues is the Immigration Assistance Office of the Adrian Dominican Sisters.

According to Sister Attracta Kelly, director of the Immigration Assistance Office, federal agents who want to arrest someone are required to have a warrant with that person’s name on it that has been signed by a judge. The Immigration Assistance Office can be reached at 517-266-3448 or by emailing [email protected].