The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in a major immigration case this week. The American Civil Liberties Union argues that the Trump administration’s new mandatory detention policy for immigrants, even those with pending asylum cases or without criminal records, violates their right to due process. 

ACLU Senior Attorney Miriam Aukerman says, “It’s the goal of the administration to make people so desperate because they’re detained that they’re gonna leave their families behind. And just leave the country and leave everything they’ve known. Leave their communities… their kids.” 

Most of the eleven immigrants in the case before the appeals court this week live in Michigan. Government lawyers argue they should be held until they’re deported or their immigration cases are resolved. 

-Reporting by Lindsey Smith, MPRN

Additional headlines for Monday, March 16, 2026

Hybrid transit meeting

The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) is hosting its monthly community input meeting. DDOT will discuss services, fares, and more. The meeting take place March 19 at 5 p.m. at the Rosa Parks Transit Center or on Zoom. 

MDHHS storm tips

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says people should be prepared for the severe weather event this week. March 15-21 is Severe Weather Awareness week. MDDHS is sharing resources for emergency preparedness, including creating an emergency plan.

Last year people in northern Michigan experienced a severe storm leaving 90,000 people without power. It was later declared a major disaster by the federal government. 

MDHHS says people can visit their Michigan Prepares website to find resources, including on reducing carbon monoxide poisoning, flood safety and food shortage. MDHHS says people can also sign up for emergency text alerts. 

New grants to boost freshwater literacy, innovative STEM education for K-12 students 

New Michigan state grants will support STEM education by allowing field trips to freshwater locations. Approximately $156,000 in funding will support freshwater literacy programs and create STEM learning opportunities for students in K-12 education. The funding will also go toward transportation costs for field trips in the 2026-2027 school year.

Faith & City Impact Summit

The City of Detroit is hosting a strategic meeting to connect Detroit clergy to city resources. The Faith & City Impact Summit will be held with Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield and city officials. Attendees will learn about economic development, neighborhood support initiatives, and family programs like Rx Kids. 

The meeting takes place on Thursday March 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Greater Grace Temple located at 23500 West Seven Mile Road. To participate, RSVP by Tuesday March 17. Email Richard.White2@detroitmi.gov or call 313-618-0597. 

Skilled Trade Task Force Meeting

The City of Detroit is hosting a Skilled Trades Task Force Meeting on Wednesday. Speakers include Mary Waters, the city councilwoman at large; Renata Miller, city council member for District 5; and Denzel McCampbell, city council member for District 7.

People can attend at the IBEW Local Union 58, at 1358 Abbott St., Detroit MI 48226. The skills trade meeting takes place Wednesday March 18 from 4-6 p.m. 

If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at DetroitEveningReport@wdet.org. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. 

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The annual “State of Transit” event was this week. Put on by advocacy group Transit Riders United, it gathers leaders from around southeastern Michigan to discuss all things related to public transportation.

Detroit Director of Transit Robert Cramer told WDET at the event that one thing DDOT has made progress over the last year is modernizing its fleet of buses. That includes adding 45 new hybrid and four electric buses.

He says the hybrid models have seem to be more feasible than the electric ones at this time.

“Because we don’t have a network of charging around the city that can keep topping it off, we send [the electric buses] out for 4 or 5 hours, then we’ll have to bring them back for a pretty lengthy charging,” says Cramer. 

However, Cramer says DDOT is still facing bus availability challenges as it works to bring more buses onto the road. He says on time performance isn’t quite where it needs to be as a result.

“Right now we’re in the upper 60s,” says Cramer, “about 70% is out on time performance. The industry standard, and our goal, is 85%.”

Cramer says improving wages for drivers and mechanics has also helped the department improve service over the last year. He says it’s helped with employee retention.