Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
Legislative Update
September 23, 2019
Michigan State Budget - County Jail Reimbursement Program (CJRP)
UPDATE: The original version including "anti-sanctuary" language was line-item vetoed. MIRC is neutral on substitute version that removes problematic immigration enforcement language.
House Bill 4231 (line item) Michigan State budget bill includes a section that punishes sanctuary cities and essentially forces police departments to cooperate with Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE). An attempt to punish counties who exercise their clear legal option to decline to hold people for ICE or engage in other optional federal immigration enforcement activities. Applying this condition to the CJRP funds could be in conflict with existing state and federal law.
The state budget bill is moving toward Governor Whitmer's desk. It includes the following "anti-sanctuary" language:
"If a county enacts or enforces any law, ordinance, policy, or rule that limits or prohibits a peace officer or local official, officer, or employee from communicating or cooperating with appropriate federal officials concerning the immigration status of an individual in this state, that county would have withheld its reimbursement from funds appropriated in part 1 [County Jail Reimbursement Program (CJRP)]. "
This is likely an attempt to punish counties who exercise their clear legal option to decline to hold people for ICE or engage in other optional federal immigration enforcement activities. Applying this condition to the CJRP funds could be in conflict with existing state and federal law.
Ask her to block the immigration condition on the CJRP. Local leaders should not be punished for protecting their residents' constitutional rights.
Governor Whitmer: 517-373-3400
