Bills to bar Michigan "sanctuary cities" face headwinds in Lansing
A pair of bills intended to ban “sanctuary cities” in Michigan revived debate over local immigration policy when they passed out of a House committee Tuesday.
The legislation, which would bar local governments from preventing police from cooperating with federal authorities’ immigration policies, was met with fury from civil rights groups and law enforcement in some urban areas. Opponents said they fear the bills would deter immigrants from reporting crimes and encourage racial profiling.
Republican House sponsors Beau LaFave, Iron Mountain, and Pamela Hornberger, Chesterfield Township, argue that their proposal is not meant to discriminate, but rather to protect local law enforcement who want to uphold federal immigration law.
LaFave said he has heard multiple reports of police officers who were fired or demoted for choosing to fulfill federal immigration authority orders, and it’s important the state protect local law enforcement officers from “political retribution.”
Read more: https://www.bridgemi.com/public-sector/bills-bar-michigan-sanctuary-cities-face-headwinds-lansing
