Overview
- Two separate ICE pursuits in Detroit ended in serious crashes, with the May 19 incident injuring asylum seeker Yerlys Moreno López and the June 5 crash leaving Mohamd Salim Abdessamed critically hurt and causing home and vehicle damage.
- City Council members Denzel McCampbell and Gabriela Santiago‑Romero and Police Commissioner Victoria Camille sent a formal letter to DHS asking that ICE stop vehicle pursuits in residential areas, provide current pursuit policy, share investigation findings, and discipline any rule violations.
- Witnesses and officials say agents used unmarked vehicles and that only limited emergency lighting was visible, raising questions about compliance with federal rules that require 'designated pursuit vehicles' and activated emergency signals.
- DHS and ICE have given a different account to reporters, saying the drivers attempted to evade lawful stops and struck government vehicles and an ICE officer, but the agencies have not publicly released after‑action reports or responded in writing to the city letter.
- The demand for transparency comes as local reporting shows a surge in ICE activity in Michigan, including more than 4,200 arrests from January 2025 to February 2026, and could push oversight, policy review, or legal steps if federal officials do not address Detroit’s requests.