ZILWAUKEE, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In today’s immigration debate, even asking a driver for identification can spark controversy.
Zilwaukee Police Chief Jason Wise is facing criticism after a routine traffic crash investigation ultimately led federal immigration authorities to identify an illegal alien driver involved in a wreck. Weeks later, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested the driver, along with eight other illegal aliens, during a separate operation in Saginaw Township.
Critics argue families shouldn’t have to fear that a minor traffic accident could lead to deportation proceedings. Wise says police still have a duty to determine who they’re dealing with when someone crashes a vehicle and can’t produce identification.
No License. No Insurance. No ID.
According to publicly available police reports, the July 7 crash involved 29-year-old Luis Jamie-Fortin, who allegedly had no driver’s license, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, or identification. When his name didn’t appear in Michigan law enforcement databases, Wise contacted federal immigration officials to verify his identity.
After confirming his identity, Wise told ICE he would not be arresting Jamie-Fortin because the sheriff’s office did not cooperate with ICE. Wise cited Jamie-Fortin for driving without a license and failing to yield, which caused the crash. The vehicle was towed, and Jamie-Fortin was released at the scene.
Democrats are upset.
The Latino Caucus of the Saginaw County Democratic Party criticized Wise’s actions, arguing routine police encounters should not leave families fearing deportation. Chair Angel Gomez questioned the chief’s decision to contact federal immigration authorities and said Jamie-Fortin should have been arrested rather than released.
The likely reasoning behind that position is that Saginaw County does not have a countywide 287(g) agreement with ICE, meaning Gomez may have believed booking Jamie-Fortin into the county jail would have kept the matter within the local criminal justice system rather than immediately involving federal immigration authorities. He told MLive, “But (Wise) released him, which allowed ICE to come into our community and not just pick up him, but pick up eight other guys.”
Chief defends his decision, questions public safety risks.
“What if I would have released him,” Wise said to MLive, “and he would have took that car and drove 500 yards down the road and crossed the center line and killed someone? Who would have been responsible? It would have been us.”
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He added, ”If they said, ‘Release him’ and not issue him a citation, then you want me to do the same thing and treat everyone else the same way? What are we as law enforcement then?”
Wise also said he had to use Google Translate because Jamie-Fortin spoke no English. That raises a public safety concern: if a driver cannot understand basic spoken English, how can they read road signs or follow traffic warnings?
Routine crash investigation, not immigration enforcement.
Wise maintains his officers weren’t looking for immigration violations. They responded to a crash, investigated it like any other, and followed standard procedures when the driver couldn’t establish his identity.
He also rejected claims that Jamie-Fortin was treated differently. “I have dealt with other people, from Germany, from China to Japan,” he said. “And I have treated them all the same on traffic laws.”
Meanwhile, the victim in the crash – a 19-year-old woman – had her vehicle totaled. Wise said her family is frustrated because, with Jamie-Fortin being an illegal alien and facing deportation, the family will be left footing the bill for the crash, including the cost of replacing the totaled vehicle.
