Wrong turn leads to hundreds of immigrant arrests at the Detroit-Canada border bridge

[Nevilledog]

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/24/nx-s1-5374937/immigrant-arrests-detroit-canada-border-bridge-detention

The road that leads to the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit to Canada, is notoriously difficult to navigate, even for locals. Signage is confusing, perennial construction in the vicinity doesn't help, and often Detroiters accidentally drive onto it and into a Customs and Border Protection area. And as NPR has reported, for immigrants without legal status a wrong turn onto the bridge can devolve into a nightmare: Days on end in detention in facilities alleged to be unfit for children, without access to legal counsel.

A news conference on Thursday held by Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and the ACLU of Michigan detailed findings about the bridge and a nearby CBP office space. Tlaib reported she was told that since January, 213 people have been detained at the bridge, including families with children. At least 90% of the detentions were people who made a wrong turn and drove onto the bridge by accident.

Citing NPR's reporting on the detentions, Tlaib said "our neighbors and family should not be disappearing because of a wrong turn."

In the inquiry, Tlaib says CBP told her that 40 of the detainees were "known Tren de Aragua," Venezuelan gang members. Of those detained there have been a dozen families - one family was held for 12 days, with two American citizen children. Lawyers with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center say they do not currently know the whereabouts of the children, and have requested further information.

*snip*