On a recent Friday, a coalition of state legislators, city officials, and community advocates came together to listen to the concerns of immigrant and refugee communities who claimed they are being disproportionately targeted by federal immigration authorities.
The gathering aimed at promoting a series of legislative proposals designed to enhance transparency and curtail the expansive reach of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), thereby aiming to bolster public safety.
State Senator Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.) emphasized the significance of the issue in a press release, stating, “ICE agents do not — and should never — have the authority to intimidate, kidnap, or bring harm to our communities.”
Among the critical concerns for Cavanagh and her colleagues were the practices of arrests without judicial warrants and the use of face coverings by immigration agents.
The proposed legislative measures, including Senate Bills 508, 509, 510, House Bills 4858 and 4859, and Senate Resolution 86, intend to:
- Establish schools, hospitals, courthouses, religious sites, and organizations aiding vulnerable groups as immigration enforcement-free zones, except when a judicial warrant or imminent public danger is involved.
- Restrict the sharing of personal data with government bodies for immigration purposes without a judicial warrant.
- Mandate specific uniforms for immigration officers and ban the use of masks to conceal their identities, except in undercover or special situations.
- Encourage Congress to enact laws requiring immigration officers to comply with these guidelines.
State Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) described the initiative as a move toward sensible immigration practices, remarking, “What’s happening has been devastating for many of our communities, for our neighbors … for some of you, your family members.”
Addressing the necessity for a strategic approach, State Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Bloomfield) noted, “When the United States gets immigration right, it saves lives. When it gets it wrong, it can literally destroy lives.” He criticized the current federal administration for furthering harm on immigrant communities.
The Department of Homeland Security, managing ICE, asserts that the Trump administration’s increased immigration enforcement is vital for removing criminals from the streets, thus safeguarding national security. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated, “Countless lives have been saved, communities have been strengthened, and the American people have been put first again,” in a statement released earlier this month.
State Representative Veronica Paiz (D-Harper Woods) recounted her visit to Minnesota, where she met with activists organizing parent patrols outside daycare centers to shield children from ICE. She emphasized the need for legal measures to protect immigrant communities.
In a personal testimony, Ann Vue shared the ordeal of her husband, Lue Yang, who was detained by ICE for months despite arriving in the U.S. as a refugee in infancy. His arrest was based on a past criminal record that had been expunged but remained accessible to immigration officers. Vue described the challenges of visitation and frequent transfers between detention centers, highlighting the emotional toll on families: “You hear children just crying and grieving” at detention centers, Vue said. “Inside these facilities, people fight to stay mentally strong, and then outside of these facilities, families have to fight to hold themselves together.”
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