LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Joseph Bellino has co-sponsored legislation to ensure local and state cooperation with efforts to combat illegal immigration and identify statewide policy changes to better address the crisis.
“This is about common sense. It’s ridiculous that some so-called leaders in this state are more focused on protecting illegal immigrants than ensuring the safety of our residents,” said Bellino, R-Monroe. “It is an insult to the crime victims, immigrants who came here the right way, and all the people who are in line overseas waiting to get their chance to come here legally and achieve the American Dream.
“Protecting our communities while encouraging legal immigration serves everyone in our state, and it should not be a partisan matter.”
Senate Bill 40, sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Lindsey, R-Allen, would create the Developing Effective Policies on Orderly Removal and Transportation (DEPORT) Task Force to identify key federal, state, and local policies regarding illegal immigration and propose solutions that ensure Michigan is doing its part to help facilitate federal deportation efforts. The task force would consist of 15 members with varying backgrounds, including state legislators, law enforcement officials, local officials, and experts in combating human and drug trafficking.
“After the Biden administration’s open border policies prioritized protecting criminal illegal immigrants over protecting the American people, President Trump is now putting the priority back on public safety and taking action to remove dangerous criminals,” Bellino said. “This new task force would outline comprehensive, bipartisan steps we can take as a state to help in this effort to safeguard the people of Michigan.
“We’ve seen the tragic consequences of government inaction, especially when it comes to stopping the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl. Too many Michigan families have been directly affected by the fentanyl crisis — often with tragic results. I, personally, know six people who have died from a fentanyl overdose.”
Senate Bills 42 and 43 would require reasonable efforts at the local level to determine the immigration status of a criminal offender after a lawful arrest, require law enforcement agencies operating local jails to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and support local law enforcement cooperation with federal authorities through state grants.
SBs 44 and 45 would align state and federal law to better assist federal authorities with enforcement by making it a state crime for illegal immigrants to enter Michigan unlawfully and allow the offenders to avoid state prosecution if they agree to return to their foreign homeland via a legal port of entry. The ability to avoid state prosecution would not apply to repeat offenders or those charged with separate crimes.
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