Federal Ruling Impacts Undocumented Residents in Michigan
Michigan’s undocumented immigrants are facing a pivotal choice following a recent federal court decision. The ruling permits the Trump administration to mandate registration for individuals without legal status, along with the necessity to carry proof of this registration.
Non-compliance with this mandate could result in imprisonment and financial penalties. Ruby Robinson from the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center advises those affected to seek legal counsel rather than relying on social media for guidance.
“At this point in time, the federal government does not have the resources it needs to arrest, detain and deport millions of people all at the same time,” Robinson noted. “And so part of this is to create an environment of fear so they actually just choose to leave.”
Efforts to expand detention capabilities are evident as North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan, a previously closed private prison, is set to reopen under a contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Additionally, ICE is collaborating with local law enforcement in a program that equips police officers to access a federal database, identifying detainees wanted by ICE. Officers can hold these individuals for up to 48 hours, awaiting ICE retrieval. Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is the first in Michigan to join this initiative.
Meanwhile, the federal government is investing in a substantial advertising campaign aimed at encouraging self-deportation. An estimated 100,000 undocumented individuals reside in the state, facing these new developments.
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