Michigan Gubernatorial Candidate's Silence on Immigration Enforcement Sparks Concerns
As the 2026 gubernatorial election heats up, former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, running as an independent candidate, is facing intense scrutiny over his stance on immigration enforcement. Despite repeated requests for clarification, Duggan has refused to outline his position on ICE policy, sparking concerns among voters and advocacy groups.
Duggan's campaign has declined to answer six detailed questions about how he would approach ICE policy, instead responding with generic statements. Campaign spokeswoman Andrea Bitely said that Mayor Duggan has not wavered in his position on ICE over the past 12 years, but refused to provide specific details on how he would handle federal immigration enforcement.
The refusal comes as public opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has surged nationwide, with 65% of Americans now saying that ICE has "gone too far" in enforcing immigration laws. A recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found that 60% disapprove of the job ICE is doing, and nearly half believe the agency is making Americans less safe.
Duggan's campaign has received significant funding from Republican sources and Trump allies, fueling concerns that his stance on immigration enforcement may be influenced by these donors. The shift in Duggan's language on immigration policy has also been notable, with him now favoring a more hardline approach to ICE enforcement.
Detroiters are reeling from recent ICE raids, including one in June 2025 where armed federal agents stormed a home and officers pepper-sprayed protesters. Mayor Duggan's administration later defended the department's role in managing demonstrators at the scene, but failed to condemn the raid.
Duggan has repeatedly emphasized cooperation with federal immigration authorities during his previous tenure as mayor, which has drawn criticism from advocacy groups. The fact that he is now refusing to outline his position on ICE policy has left many voters wondering how he would use his executive authority if elected governor.
The 2026 gubernatorial election is shaping up to be extremely tight, with early polling showing Republican John James at 34%, Democrat Jocelyn Benson at 32%, and Duggan at 26%. The lack of clarity on Duggan's stance on ICE policy could be a deciding factor in the election, as voters seek reassurance that their governor will prioritize human rights and community safety.
As the 2026 gubernatorial election heats up, former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, running as an independent candidate, is facing intense scrutiny over his stance on immigration enforcement. Despite repeated requests for clarification, Duggan has refused to outline his position on ICE policy, sparking concerns among voters and advocacy groups.
Duggan's campaign has declined to answer six detailed questions about how he would approach ICE policy, instead responding with generic statements. Campaign spokeswoman Andrea Bitely said that Mayor Duggan has not wavered in his position on ICE over the past 12 years, but refused to provide specific details on how he would handle federal immigration enforcement.
The refusal comes as public opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has surged nationwide, with 65% of Americans now saying that ICE has "gone too far" in enforcing immigration laws. A recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found that 60% disapprove of the job ICE is doing, and nearly half believe the agency is making Americans less safe.
Duggan's campaign has received significant funding from Republican sources and Trump allies, fueling concerns that his stance on immigration enforcement may be influenced by these donors. The shift in Duggan's language on immigration policy has also been notable, with him now favoring a more hardline approach to ICE enforcement.
Detroiters are reeling from recent ICE raids, including one in June 2025 where armed federal agents stormed a home and officers pepper-sprayed protesters. Mayor Duggan's administration later defended the department's role in managing demonstrators at the scene, but failed to condemn the raid.
Duggan has repeatedly emphasized cooperation with federal immigration authorities during his previous tenure as mayor, which has drawn criticism from advocacy groups. The fact that he is now refusing to outline his position on ICE policy has left many voters wondering how he would use his executive authority if elected governor.
The 2026 gubernatorial election is shaping up to be extremely tight, with early polling showing Republican John James at 34%, Democrat Jocelyn Benson at 32%, and Duggan at 26%. The lack of clarity on Duggan's stance on ICE policy could be a deciding factor in the election, as voters seek reassurance that their governor will prioritize human rights and community safety.
... I mean, Detroit has been hit hard by ICE raids lately, and it feels like he's not taking a strong stance against them. If he's getting funding from Republican sources, that might be influencing his views too much 
... but at the same time, I get why he wouldn't want to take a hardline approach - we need people who can work with both sides, you know? 
Still, it's kinda frustrating when candidates won't give us straight answers on important issues like this. We deserve better than just generic statements 
...
meanwhile, detroiters are still dealing with the aftermath of those recent ice raids 
and it's hard to see how duggan can be taken seriously as a leader when he won't even give us straight answers about how he'd handle similar situations in the future 
. How can we trust him to protect our community when he won't even talk about how he'd stop these raids? It's like he's playing with fire without a fire extinguisher 
. Can't someone tell us what he really stands for on this issue?
. It sounds like he's trying to have it both ways 
. Until then, I'm giving him an F for transparency 
Duggan's silence on immigration enforcement is giving me major pause. I get it, he's trying to stay neutral, but 12 years of not addressing the issue is a pretty big red flag for me. As someone who's lived in Detroit their whole life, I know how brutal ICE raids can be, and we're still reeling from that recent one 
. Duggan's soft stance on immigration enforcement during his mayorship was a major turn-off for many people of color, and now it feels like he's backtracking even further. Can't we just have some clarity on this?
meanwhile, detroiters are still reeling from those recent ice raids and he's just sitting there like "oh nope, not me" 
and yeah 65% of americans think ice has gone too far so maybe he should clarify what he actually thinks on the matter instead of just playing it safe 
The fact that Detroiters were affected by the recent ICE raids is actually a great way to gauge Duggan's commitment to community safety - if he's not willing to take a stand againstICE raids, how can we trust him to make tough decisions as governor? 
