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The second incident unfolded on February 9, 2026. Sgt. Wallet encountered a Spanish-speaking driver who allegedly presented a fraudulent driver’s license. After a fingerprint scanner failed to verify the individual’s identity, Wallet contacted CBP. Department leadership later claimed the call was made for translation services instead of using the department’s contracted 24-hour translation line. In that case as well, federal agents ultimately detained the driver.
In both situations, the mere act of contacting CBP was deemed a violation of Detroit’s sanctuary-style guidelines.
Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison initially took an even harder stance. Speaking at a February 12 meeting of the police commission, Bettison revealed he intended to terminate both officers outright. The department’s policy prohibits officers from coordinating with federal immigration authorities in routine matters unless required by law.
After deliberation, the board opted for suspension rather than termination. “Last night the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners took an extraordinary step to unanimously vote to suspend without pay for 30 days the two DPD officers who violated longstanding departmental policy,” Bettisom said Saturday.
He later added that he was satisfied with the board’s final decision and would not pursue firing the officers.
The controversy did not end there.
On February 19, the same day the board formalized its vote, Sgt. Wallet filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Her complaint alleges that her initial suspension violated constitutional due process protections because she was not given prior notice or an opportunity to respond before disciplinary action was taken.
The lawsuit further claims that misinformation was provided to Chief Bettison and challenges the department’s restrictions on communication with federal immigration agencies. Wallet maintains that her call to CBP was strictly for identification purposes and not to assist immigration enforcement. She also asserts that a supervising lieutenant directed her to make the call.
The suit seeks to block further discipline, including the unpaid suspension and any potential termination.
Adding fuel to the fire, public records suggest that similar contacts between Detroit officers and CBP may have occurred in other cases without resulting in discipline. That revelation has raised questions about consistency and whether the two officers were singled out amid political pressure.
Supporters of the city’s policy argue that sanctuary rules build trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement. Critics counter that punishing officers for verifying identities or seeking assistance from federal partners undermines public safety and handcuffs police during routine stops.
For many observers, the case represents more than an internal disciplinary matter. It is the latest flashpoint in the broader national battle over immigration enforcement, federal authority, and the limits placed on local police in Democrat-controlled cities.
As Sgt. Wallet’s lawsuit moves forward in federal court, Detroit’s decision could face legal scrutiny that reverberates well beyond Michigan. Whether the suspensions stand or are overturned, the political and legal consequences of this showdown are only beginning to unfold.
