LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan continues to evaluate its approach to the increase of immigrants at the border of Texas, and has some jurisdictions that are deemed “sanctuary” for immigrants though the state does not share the same policy.

What are the official “Sanctuary States” in the United States?

Oregon was the first state to establish itself as a sanctuary state in July 1987, and has since been followed by 10 other states, among them California, Illinois, and New York. The District of Columbia is also considered a sanctuary jurisdiction according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

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According to the Center for Immigration Studies, sanctuary jurisdictions follow the following rules.

“These cities, counties, and states have laws, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, policies, or other practices that obstruct immigration enforcement and shield criminals from ICE — either by refusing to or prohibiting agencies from complying with ICE detainers, imposing unreasonable conditions on detainer acceptance, denying ICE access to interview incarcerated aliens, or otherwise impeding communication or information exchanges between their personnel and federal immigration officers,” according to the group.

Michigan isn’t a “Sanctuary State,” but several municipalities are.

These include: Lansing, which is the only city in Michigan that has this designation. Though Ingham County, Kalamazoo County, Kent County, and Wayne County are officially sanctuary counties.

Michigan legislators weigh in on border crossings.

Several Michigan Representatives have sent letters to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, after visiting the Texas Border, seeking state intervention. State Rep. Alicia St. Germaine (R-Harrison Township) wrote to her and reminded her of the ongoing “humanitarian crisis.”

“We write you requesting that as the duly elected executive of the state of Michigan and a key voice within our nation’s political discussion, that you immediately work with the President of the United States to secure our nation’s border through all actions and resources at the disposal of the federal government and work with the state Legislature to lessen the impact of the border crisis on the people of Michigan,” the letter said.

In addition to Rep. St. Germaine, 26 other legislators signed onto the letter sent to the Governor, which highlighted that in 2022, 68% of overdose deaths in the United States were linked to fentanyl, “a growing issue in our area.”

Illegal immigrants found in Traverse City.

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In late February, 19 illegal immigrants were detained after being found in a black painted bus owned by Dutchman Tree Farms in Grand Traverse County. This was only a day after State Rep. John Roth (R-Interlochen) co-sponsored legislation about individuals in the state unlawfully.

Part of the legislation includes language that would make it a felony in the state as an illegal immigrant.

The legislation includes a paragraph that says, “An individual who is present in this state who is not lawfully present in the United States is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years, a fine of not more than $50,000.00, or both.”

Rep. Roth also commented on the bus incident, “Grand Traverse County is 1,667 miles and over a 25-hour drive from the US-Mexico border, yet the situation down there is so out of control that our local police are having to deal with busloads of illegal immigrants in our community.”

Both House Bills 5465 and 5466 have been referred to the House Government Operations Committee.