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Grand Rapids city staff won't ask about immigration status

city of Grand Rapids logo
Courtesy photo
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grcity.us

A western Michigan city has adopted a new policy that says city officials and staff won't ask residents about their immigration status.

The Grand Rapids Press reports that the Grand Rapids City Commission adopted the policy Tuesday.

The ordinance was drafted over the last year by the Community Relations Commission, the city's diversity and inclusion manager, local police and the city's lawyers.

The policy doesn't bar police officers from asking about immigration status. But the policy says police must follow the Grand Rapids Police Department's Impartial Policing Policy, which prohibits racial profiling but doesn't explicitly stop officers from inquiring about immigration status.

Police Chief David Rahinsky says the department doesn't ask about immigration status. But he says the policy doesn't stop Kent County, the Michigan State Police or federal authorities from enforcing federal immigration laws.