Fear Is Reshaping Daily Life for Immigrant Michiganders: Evidence from Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, and Ypsilanti

May 2026
|
Paige A. Hill, David Laitin, Mara Ostfeld

Immigration enforcement fears are not staying at the border — they are reshaping daily life in communities across Michigan. A survey of 204 immigrant Michigan residents, conducted between November 2025 and January 2026 across Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, and Ypsilanti, documents a widespread chilling effect: people are avoiding doctors, keeping children home from school, skipping work, and withdrawing from church and community spaces out of fear of drawing attention to their immigration status. This report draws on data from the University of Michigan's Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) and the Michigan Metro Area Communities Study (MIMACS) to examine the experiences, perceptions, and concerns of immigrant residents across these four communities. The survey captured the views of 204 Michiganders, including 105 Detroit residents, 14 Flint residents, 38 Grand Rapids residents, and 47 Ypsilanti/ Ypsilanti Township residents drawn from a representative sample of households. The sample includes immigrants from over 50 countries spanning Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, representing a range of immigration statuses including naturalized citizens, green card holders, asylees, and refugees.

Immigration enforcement fears are reshaping daily life for Michigan immigrants, U-M study finds

Key findings

  • More than half (55.8%) of immigrant Michiganders — or someone they know — have avoided everyday activities due to fear of drawing attention to their immigration status.
  • Six in 10 (61.1%) say current federal immigration policies have harmed immigrants a lot; 72.2% say they have been harmful to some degree.
  • Six in 10 (63.1%) have seen or heard about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in their communities. More than half (57.1%) worry about their own or a family member's detention or deportation, regardless of citizenship status. 
  • Nearly 1 in 4 (23.7%) report experiencing discrimination or mistreatment in the past six months based on race, ethnicity, appearance, accent, or immigration status. 
  • Women, non-citizens, and Mexican-born respondents report higher levels of concern and more frequent experiences of discrimination than other immigrants.