Immigration

HB 4868 creates supplemental funding for Michigan school districts to support English language learners (ELLs) starting in the 2026 fiscal year. To qualify, districts must administer the WIDA ACCESS or WIDA Alternate ACCESS proficiency test to ELLs. Funding is distributed based on test scores: 75% of the target foundation allowance for scores 1.0-1.9, 50% for 2.0-2.9, and 35% for 3.0-3.9. This directly affects school districts serving ELLs who meet the assessment requirements under Michigan’s School Code.

SB 508 prohibits law enforcement officers from checking immigration status or enforcing immigration laws in specific "sensitive locations," including schools, hospitals, places of worship, courthouses, and facilities serving vulnerable groups like children or crime victims. The bill allows exceptions only if a court orders entry or if an immediate threat to public safety requires action. It directly affects state and local law enforcement officers and individuals present at these locations during routine activities. The law creates a new legal framework to limit immigration enforcement in settings where people seek safety or services.

SB 509 prohibits Michigan government entities (like police departments, courts, or DMVs) from sharing personal information - including addresses, IDs, or criminal history - with federal immigration authorities unless a court-issued warrant is presented. It requires agencies to verify if requests are for immigration enforcement and deny such requests without a warrant. Agencies must also report annual data on these requests to state officials by March 31 each year. The law aims to prevent local government data from being used in federal immigration actions without judicial oversight.

Senate Resolution 86 urges the U.S. Congress to pass two specific bills: the "VISIBLE Act" (S.2212) requiring immigration officers to display visible identification (including agency and badge number) and prohibiting face coverings during public enforcement, and the "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act" (S.455) limiting enforcement actions in places like schools, hospitals, places of worship, and courthouses. The resolution directly affects federal immigration officers and the public interacting with them, aiming to increase transparency and protect privacy in sensitive settings. It references existing congressional proposals to codify longstanding enforcement policies that have been used under multiple administrations. The resolution does not create new law but calls for federal legislative action to standardize these requirements.

This House resolution (HR 221) urges the federal government to halt efforts to expedite denaturalization - stripping citizenship - through civil court cases. It criticizes a June 2025 DOJ memo directing attorneys to prioritize such cases, noting these civil proceedings lack constitutional rights like a jury trial or appointed attorney, and could target naturalized citizens without criminal charges. The resolution emphasizes that 70% of Americans oppose revoking citizenship and that Michigan’s 400,000+ naturalized citizens contribute significantly to the economy and workforce. It calls for the federal government to reverse this policy to protect due process rights and prevent misuse against naturalized citizens.