Case: United States v. Washtenaw, County of
5:26-cv-11166 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Filed Date: April 9, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
This case challenges the County of Washtenaw, Michigan’s alleged obstruction of the Trump Administration’s immigration enforcement operations.
On April 9, 2026, the United States filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against the County of Washtenaw, Michigan. After President Trump declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, he ordered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) and its components U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) to prioritize nationwide efforts to identify and remove unauthorized immigrants from the U.S. in accordance with federal law. The complaint asserts that, despite the alleged threat that unauthorized immigrants pose to American lives, property, and the communities in which Americans reside, Washtenaw County, through the actions of its officials, is obstructing federal immigration enforcement operations and shielding criminal offenders from apprehension by federal law enforcement. The County had issued policy directives through the Sheriff’s Office, Prosecutor’s Office, and Board of Commissioners that did not align with the federal government’s immigration efforts. The United States argues that Washtenaw County’s policies aim to obstruct federal law enforcement and celebrate thwarting the constitutional obligation of the President to take care that federal immigration law be faithfully executed. The United States brought this action under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution and the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”). The U.S. sought declaratory relief that the County’s actions are unlawful and preempted by federal law, a permanent injunction prohibiting the County and its officials from enforcing or implementing the challenged directives, and attorneys’ fees. The case was assigned to District Judge F. Kay Behm.
On June 17, 2026, the defendants filed a joint motion to dismiss, asserting that the INA does not conflict with any of the challenged policies because they neither regulate the federal government nor discriminate against it. The court has scheduled a remote hearing on this motion on August 17, 2026.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Ian Gibson (7/24/2026)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73171084/parties/united-states-v-washtenaw-county-of/
Billard, Michelle (Michigan)
Burton-Harris, Robert (Michigan)
Butswinkas, Dane H. (Michigan)
Gamse, Nicholas G. (Michigan)
Fink, Nathan J. (Michigan)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73171084/united-states-v-washtenaw-county-of/
Last updated Sept. 8, 2026, 3:17 a.m.
Docket for: United States v. Washtenaw, County of
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 9, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The United States of America
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
County
County of Washtenaw, Michigan
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. §§ 1101 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Eastern District of Michigan 5:26-cv-11166
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Immigration/Border:
Case Summary of United States v. Washtenaw, County of, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48087/ (last updated 7/24/2026).