Using Vector2.negativeInfinity in if else

I have written a function to use raycast2d to detect enemies and return their positions. Here is the code:

 public Vector2 detect() //detect an enemy, return it's position. If enemy not found, return Vector2.negativeInfinity
     {
         //Debug.Log(range);
         RaycastHit2D [] detectionInfoRight = Physics2D.RaycastAll(gameObject.transform.position, Vector2.right, range);
         RaycastHit2D [] detectionInfoLeft = Physics2D.RaycastAll(gameObject.transform.position, Vector2.left, range);
 
         foreach(RaycastHit2D info in detectionInfoLeft)
         {
             if(info.collider.gameObject.tag == "Enemy")
             {
                 Debug.Log("Enemy found, returning position: " + info.collider.gameObject.transform.position);
                 return info.collider.gameObject.transform.position;
             }
         }
 
         foreach(RaycastHit2D info in detectionInfoRight)
         {
             if (info.collider.gameObject.tag == "Enemy")
             {
                 Debug.Log("Enemy found, returning position: " + info.collider.gameObject.transform.position);
                 return info.collider.gameObject.transform.position;
             }
         }
 
         Debug.Log("No enemies");
         return Vector2.negativeInfinity;
     }

In my update function I used a if-else statement to check whether or not to attack:

  void Update () {
             if (detect() != Vector2.negativeInfinity)
             {
                 rb2d.velocity = Vector2.zero; //stop, and be ready to engage
                 Debug.Log("Enemy Detected, position: " + detect());
             }
     
             else
             {
                 rb2d.velocity = new Vector2(patrolBoat.speed, 0);
             }
         }
 

The problem is, when no enemy is sighted detect() returns Vector2.negativeInfinity correctly, but it still enters the if statement and prints "Enemy Detected, position: (-Infinity, -Infinity)".