LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – With illegal immigration being the latest hot button topic, many Michiganders are examining how their own state is handling this issue.
Michigan’s illegal immigration costs.
A study conducted by the Federation for American Immigration Reform found that illegal immigrants and their children cost Michigan $1.1 billion in 2023, with each illegal alien costing the state $4,525.
The case of Maykol Bogoya Duarte.
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Last month, 18-year-old Maykol Bogoya Duarte was detained by police officers. During a traffic stop, police officers found that Duarte had a removal order after his appeal for asylum was denied last year.
More than 1,500 people have signed a petition to release Duarte and let him complete his high school education before returning to Colombia.
“We are asking you to publicly condemn the detention of one of your students, to support his request to be released in order to finish his high school education, and to put preventative policies in place to better support immigrant students and families,” the petition said.
Duarte is currently being held in an Upper Peninsula immigration facility as he waits to be deported imminently, according to his attorney, Ruby Robinson, from the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.
Political responses from state leaders.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson condemned President Donald Trump for deploying the National Guard to protect Los Angeles residents from violent rioters.
“As a military spouse whose career is inspired by the bravery of citizens who stood up for democracy during the civil rights movement — and the National Guard who protected them — I am appalled that President Trump is deploying our own military to quell protests against his regime. It’s not who we are, it does not make us great, and I pray that no law abiding people are hurt or worse due to this flagrant, tyrannical abuse of power,” Benson said in a post on X.
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During Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s 2018 campaign, she said ICE should be abolished.
Whitmer’s thoughts on ICE.
“I think that ICE is doing a fundamentally cruel and unconstitutional and undemocratic job,” Whitmer said.
But the state’s Republicans look to the Constitution and the rule of law in their latest efforts to ban sanctuary cities, according to a press release.
“Respect for the Constitution and respect for the rule of law demand that we put an end to sanctuary cities in our state,” Rep. Joseph G. Pavlov (R-Smiths Creek) said in the release. “Local governments in Michigan not only openly defy our constitutional order by harboring illegal immigrants, they also invite dangerous criminals into our communities. We cannot tolerate this willful criminality.”
Pavlov, along with other House Republicans, introduced House Bill 4338 and 4339 to prohibit local governments from creating laws that prevent the execution of the federal government’s immigration policies. Thus, under these bills, local governments must cooperate with the federal government’s policies.
“Cooperation between the state and federal government is a responsibility shared by every state that wishes to be a part of the United States of America,” Pavlov said in a speech he delivered on the House floor in support of the bill package. “The federal government is required by the Constitution to ensure national security. Their efforts for national security include efforts inside of Michigan. Thus, our local governments should not prohibit the federal government from providing the services that our Constitution demands for American citizens.”