In a statement dated January 15 and shared on X by WMKT/WMBN Brand Manager Nick Rhudy, City Manager Shane Horn emphasized that Petoskey Public Safety does not have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and does not participate in the federal 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement agencies to carry out certain immigration enforcement functions.

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In short, immigration enforcement remains a federal responsibility, and Petoskey is not opting in. Horn underscored that point in his letter, stating, “Partnership with ICE would require the authorization of City Council and has not been proposed and is not currently under consideration.”

According to the city, when ICE operates within Petoskey, local officers are limited to observation and traffic control – cones, not cuffs. Public Safety officers will only step in if there’s violence or a direct threat to public safety.

Local law is first in Petoskey.

The city of Petoskey emphasized in its statement that its police, fire, and EMS departments remain focused on enforcing state and local laws, not federal immigration policy.

Petoskey also took pains to remind the public that ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are separate agencies, noting that Border Patrol agents have long maintained a visible presence in the area as part of routine patrols. In short, Petoskey isn’t declaring itself a sanctuary city – it’s simply minding its own municipal business and leaving immigration enforcement to Washington DC.

County not leading ICE ops, but not blocking them either.

After questions surfaced about whether northern lower Michigan local law enforcement is working with federal immigration authorities, Izzy Lyman, writer, former local politician, and social media commentator, reached out to Emmet County Sheriff Matt Leirstein to get clarification on his department’s role when agencies like ICE or Customs and Border Protection operate in the county. He told her, “If ICE or CBP are conducting operations in my County I expect them to let me know.”

He went on to say, “I will support them by being present, but I will not be taking a lead in their operations. We will make sure that federal agents are safe & in return, we will make sure to live up to our oath & remember our duty to intervene should we encounter something wrong.”

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Taken together, Petoskey and Emmet County are signaling a consistent approach: federal immigration enforcement is allowed to operate, but it will not be run or assisted by local government.