By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)
As President Trump works hard fighting illegal immigration in Washington DC, Speaker Of The House Matt Hall and the Michigan House Republicans are working hard fighting illegal immigration in Lansing.
Speaker Hall made it clear from the jump, right when he took office earlier this year, that dealing with illegal immigration was a top priority---and he has already delivered on that promise repeatedly.
First up: no municipality that is considered a “sanctuary” for illegals is eligible to receive any special earmark funding in the upcoming budget. That legislation passed the House in February.
However, Hall and House Republicans were just getting started.
In May, the House passed legislation withholding ALL state revenue sharing payments from any local government that is considered a “Sanctuary” for illegals: the Sanctuary Policy Prohibition Act, and the County Law Enforcement Protection Act.
That moves takes things to a whole new level.
While special earmark spending is important, it’s an extremely small fraction of funding local municipalities receive. The state revenue sharing money is vital.
Without those state revenue payments, local governments would face severe consequences, impacting many services---some couldn’t even open their doors.
Under the proposal, an offending municipality would have 2 months to rescind its sanctuary policy, and start complying with federal immigration authorities.
State Rep. James DeSana voted for the bills. He says action is urgently needed.
“We cannot afford to ignore the consequences of dangerous sanctuary policies we have seen across Michigan,” DeSana said. “From murders to assaults, to child exploitation--- sanctuary policies hurt Michiganders, and prevent law enforcement from doing their jobs.”
State Rep. Cam Cavitt also spoke out in support of the legislation.
“This plan puts public safety and the rule of law first,” Cavitt said. “These bills stop local governments from adopting sanctuary policies that block cooperation with federal immigration authorities and prioritize criminal aliens over their own citizens. The only place an illegal immigrant belongs in Michigan is on a bus back home.”
So, just where are these sanctuaries for illegals throughout our state?
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security released a list of 8 cities and counties that it says are sanctuaries for illegals in Michigan.
Oakland, Wayne, Kalamazoo, Wexford, Kent, and Washtenaw Counties made the list, as well as two cities---Ann Arbor, and East Lansing.
According to The Center For Immigration Studies, Michigan has 9 sanctuary municipalities:
-Kalamazoo County
-City Of Lansing
-Leelanau County
-Muskegon County
-Oakland County
-Washtenaw County
-Wayne County
Recent legislation passed by the State House defines a sanctuary municipality as any county or city that “actively maintains any rule, policy, ordinance, or resolution that would subvert immigration enforcement in any way or that refuses to comply with federal immigration enforcement measures.”
Speaker Hall and House Republicans have put the sanctuaries for illegals across Michigan on notice---and they’re just getting started.
Stay tuned!
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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
