Standing for what you believe in — Your voice matters

Wayne resident, Dru Steeby, was detained and ended up in handcuffs at a protest in Detroit.

By Sarah Shurge – If you remember events that transpired (and still are) in Minnesota and think that couldn’t happen in Michigan or even the City of Wayne, you may need to think again.
Romulus Mayor Robert McCraight and State Sen. Darrin Camilleri confirmed to FOX 2 that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has purchased a warehouse in Romulus at 7525 Cogswell with the intent of being converted into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center approximately 1.3 miles away from the City of Wayne.
The plans for the detention center would have up to 500 beds.
Despite the cold on Monday, February 24th, hundreds came out to Romulus City Hall to protest this proposal and keep ICE out of the community.
The Romulus City Council unanimously approved a resolution that opposes the operation of an ICE facility within the city limits.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel asked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to halt its plans to use the warehouse in Romulus as a detention center.
The State of Michigan and the City of Romulus filed a lawsuit Tuesday, March 24th against DHS and ICE.
Michigan Attorney General Nessel stated that DHS purchased the warehouse in February without any notice to the State, to the City, or to the general public, and that ICE outbid an automotive supplier that had already submitted renovation plans to the city.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, alleges that the warehouse is not an appropriate place of detention because it is located within a mile of an elementary school and a middle school, it borders residential neighborhoods, and it lies within a floodplain that has experienced flooding as recently as last year. Also, it lacks adequate infrastructure to support 500 detainees and staff, including the number of bathrooms and sewer system.
“As the Commissioner who represents the City of Romulus, and as a longtime resident, I am personally opposed to this proposed ICE facility,” said Wayne County Commissioner Allen Wilson in the Spring 2026 District 11 Community Update.
With the uncertainty of how ICE will proceed and the possibility of more protests becoming common in our community — a protest was already hosted in Wayne in March — it’s important to remember that your voice matters, while also staying safe and protected.
Wayne resident, Dru Steeby, wasn’t so lucky while he was participating in a protest in Detroit and ended up in handcuffs and detained.
Steeby has lived in Wayne since 2018 and currently works for Pico MES, a start-up that sells software for quickly setting up assembly lines.
Pico MES does work with Ford’s suppliers, and Steeby’s previous stop was at Atlas Copco, where his final project was software that assists the assembly line at the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant (MAP) in Wayne, assembling the Broncos.
“When I heard that Trump [US President] was speaking at the Ford Dearborn Truck Plant (DTP), a plant I’ve done work in, it felt personal to me,” said Steeby.
On Tuesday, January 13th, Steeby drove to DTP early in the morning to participate in a self-protest at an entrance he had previously entered for work.
Steeby knew that President Trump was also speaking to the Detroit Economic Club inside MotorCity Casino in Detroit that day and that there was a protest planned for noon at Cass Park. So Steeby protested outside Ford for a few hours and arrived in Detroit by 10 a.m.
Steeby recalls there were about 150 people at the protest, and the plan was to march from Cass Park down towards MotorCity Casino.
As they marched closer to the casino, security had ramped up and the street Steeby needed to walk down to return to his parked truck was blocked off.
Steeby was walking down the sidewalk – the protest following him – when a Detroit Police Officer approached him. Steeby informed the officer that this was a public sidewalk, tried to keep walking to his truck, and was physically pushed by the officer.
“I realized he [the officer] wasn’t going to let me by, but I know my rights. I had no reason to leave,” said Steeby.
A line of officers blocked protesters and warned them to back up. Steeby stood his ground – phone in one hand and flag in the other – silently staring at the police.
Police warned the protesters multiple times that they were “loitering” and if they did not leave, they would be arrested. Steeby did not leave. And Steeby was put in handcuffs.
Shortly after Steeby was taken into custody, a second protester (a woman) was also handcuffed by police.
MLive and the Detroit Free Press published articles regarding the two protesters’ arrest, and CBS posted footage of Steeby interacting with the officers at the protest.
Steeby was left handcuffed in the police vehicle for about two hours until they were driven to the Third Precinct, written a ticket, and released.
Steeby obtained a lawyer and is currently going through the legal process to fight the ticket: his first court date was Thursday, February 12th, and his latest court date was Monday, April 20th.
“I don’t feel ashamed or regret when I didn’t do anything wrong,” said Steeby. “We have to stay vigilant.”
Protesting is legal in the United States and is a fundamental right protected by the First Amendment — which guarantees freedom of speech and peaceful assembly.
While you have the right to protest, police may legally ask you to move for safety reasons or to allow others to pass, but they cannot stop a protest without just cause (i.e. clear and present danger of riot, disorder, interference with traffic, or other immediate threat to public safety).
If you’re attending a protest soon, make sure you know your rights. You can visit websites such as: aclu.org/know-your-rights/-protesters-rights to educate yourself and be prepared.
If you’d like to keep up with the latest updates regarding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s intent to use the property in Romulus as an ICE detention center, visit: romulusgov.com/587/DHS-Facility-Updates
Remember that your voice matters.