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
In this case, the United States challenged Washtenaw County'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, the County Sheriff, the Prosecuting Attorney for the County, and the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. 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 asserted 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, was 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 argued that Washtenaw County’s policies aimed to obstruct federal law enforcement and celebrated 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. The U.S. sought declaratory relief that the County’s actions were 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 did not conflict with any of the challenged policies because they neither regulated the federal government nor discriminated against it. On July 17, 2026, the United States filed a response arguing that the County’s policies were unconstitutional because they were expressly preempted by federal statutes and violated intergovernmental immunity.
A remote hearing on this motion was held on August 17, 2026. On August 21, 2026, the court granted defendants’ motion and dismissed the action with prejudice. The court held that the federal government could not compel localities to enforce its immigration priorities and that the government had failed to allege the County did anything beyond its prerogative to direct its own resources.
As of September 2026, the case appears to be closed.
Summary Authors
Ian Gibson (7/24/2026)
Zoe Basulto (9/20/2026)
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 Oct. 11, 2026, 3:23 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
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Eastern District of Michigan 5:26-cv-11166
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Immigration/Border:
Undocumented immigrants - state and local regulation
Case Summary of United States v. Washtenaw, County of, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48087/ (last updated 9/20/2026).