“Illegal immigration is not a victimless crime,” Runestad said in a statement. “It robs opportunities for work from unemployed and underemployed citizens and legal residents, and it costs the state a tremendous amount of money.”

E-Verify for every employer.

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The first proposal, Senate Bill 444, would require all employers, public and private, to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. The web-based system, operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is designed to prevent the hiring of unauthorized workers.

Runestad argues that mandatory E-Verify is a common sense measure to ensure jobs go to those legally permitted to work in the U.S., adding that the bill helps protect Michigan’s workforce and deters unlawful employment practices.

Shining a light on state prison populations.

The second bill, Senate Bill 445, would require the Michigan Department of Corrections to track and report the citizenship status of inmates – something not currently required by law.

“We have no idea how many illegal immigrants are being housed by MDOC as opposed to being turned over to the federal government for proper adjudication and deportation,” Runestad said. “These criminals need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and not allowed to eat up taxpayer dollars in state prisons.”

Runestad praised the Trump administration for significantly reducing illegal border crossings but said, “Michigan also needs to do its part. I have introduced commonsense safeguards to protect Michiganders and ensure we do not encourage illegal immigration in our state.”

Opposing view.

Immigrant advocates, however, warn the bills could harm workers and disrupt industries throughout the state. Christine Sauvé, policy engagement and communications manager at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, told WILX-10, “This is one of a series of bills that we’re seeing from our state legislature that’s simply looking for new ways to criminalize our immigrant friends and neighbors.”

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Sauvé also highlighted the documented error rate of the E-Verify system, warning that it can mistakenly flag workers and put their jobs at risk – particularly in sectors like agriculture and construction that rely heavily on immigrant labor.