According to the Foreign Nationals Policy, officers of the Grand Rapids Police Department will not be allowed to inquire about someone’s immigration status, or detain an individual based solely on actual or suspected violations of federal immigration law. Here is Eric Payne, chief of GRPD explaining the policy further.
“If we have contact with someone asking them about their status is not something that’s a priority for us, nor do we do it, so now that’s what we are hoping or what we believe that the policy will address.”
Payne shares that the policy will be a guide not just for officers but also for the public when dealing with GRPD.
“It is intended to do give our officers better direction when we deal with foreign nationals. It also gives the public information on what to expect from our officers.”
The policy will require all employees of GRPD who wants to make contact with any federal law enforcement agency like Immigration Customs Enforcement to receive approval from the chief’s office before reaching out to the agency.
“I or one of the deputy chiefs must be notified if there is going to be contact with immigration.”
The policy comes several months after the City of Grand Rapids Civilian Appeals Board found GRPD Captain Curt VanderKooi guilty of violating the department’s impartial policing policy for contacting ICE on behalf of a U.S. Citizen and marine veteran on November of last year.
Michelle Jokisch Polo, WGVU News
