Immigration (Detention)

HB 5494 prohibits Michigan state agencies or anyone acting on behalf of the state from selling or transferring state-owned property to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or its subsidiaries. It requires that any property transfer must include a restriction banning the property from being used as an immigration detention center by ICE, federal contractors, or private companies working with the federal government. The state can reclaim the property if this restriction is violated, and any transfer violating these rules is legally void. This directly affects state property transactions and limits federal immigration enforcement use of Michigan land.

SB 40 creates the DEPORT task force (Developing Effective Policies on Orderly Removal and Transportation) to advise Michigan's legislature on immigration enforcement cooperation. The task force, composed of elected officials, law enforcement leaders, and trafficking experts, must recommend policies to facilitate deportations, improve local law enforcement training regarding undocumented immigrants, and enhance coordination with U.S. Homeland Security. It is required to submit a preliminary report within one month and a final report within one year of its formation. The bill establishes this study group to guide potential state-level actions, not to implement new immigration laws.

This resolution (HR 151) urges the federal government to purchase Michigan's closed Ojibway Correctional Facility in Marenisco and convert it into a detention center for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It directly affects ICE operations and Michigan communities, citing the facility's 2018 closure (which cost hundreds of local jobs) and a 154% rise in ICE arrests in Michigan since 2025. The resolution references Florida's similar facility conversion and requests federal action to support ICE detention capacity. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new law but formally requests federal purchase and repurposing of the property.

SB 43, the "Immigration and Customs Enforcement Support Act," requires Michigan law enforcement agencies (like state police, sheriffs, and city police) to create programs that assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in enforcing federal immigration laws. Agencies must enter a formal agreement with DHS, verify the immigration status of detained individuals, and transfer non-citizens convicted of crimes to ICE custody. It establishes two specific programs - jail enforcement models and warrant service officer programs - to facilitate this cooperation, subject to funding from a new state support fund. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies and individuals detained under state criminal law who are not legally present in the U.S.