immigrants
New citizens greeted by Whitmer, Benson
Twenty-five men and women became naturalized citizens of the United States on Friday during a mid-morning ceremony at Cadillac Place, a state government office in Detroit. Their countries of origin included Yemen, Ukraine, Iraq, Mexico, Thailand and Lebanon. “Michigan’s greatest strength is and always has been our people who come to Michigan from all over […]
Column: Anti-immigrant rhetoric led to acid attack in Midwest
An ugly incident on Milwaukee’s south side where Mahud Villalaz, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen who immigrated from Peru, had acid thrown in his face is the tragic but inevitable byproduct of relentless scapegoating and demonizing of immigrants by elected officials from the president on down. Immigrant bashing is being regularly employed for political gain. The […]
Bills allow undocumented immigrants to have state IDs, driver licenses
At a Thursday press conference, state Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) called it a “matter of human dignity” for those who can’t prove their lawful presence to be able to obtain state identification. Chang and other Democratic legislators said they’re moving forward with plans to introduce a “Drive SAFE” package of bills that would allow undocumented […]
Column: Trump admin issues new crackdown on immigrants with health insurance mandate
On Oct. 4, the President Trump administration issued a proclamation targeting the health insurance market and legal immigration into the United States. The impact of this action on all health care consumers – immigrants and citizens alike — could be far-reaching. The recent executive action by the administration leverages the same authority the president used […]
Federal judge blocks Trump admin ‘public charge’ rule for immigrants
A federal judge in New York on Friday granted an injunction blocking the President Trump administration from implementing its “public charge” rule that would have allowed immigration officials to deny green cards to legal immigrants who receive some public benefits. The rule was scheduled to take effect on Tuesday. The rule would have restricted immigrants […]
Nessel joins brief against DACA repeal
Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a brief in the lawsuit against the federal repeal of the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The brief, filed Friday with the U.S. Supreme Court, argues that allowing DACA program recipients, commonly referred to as Dreamers, to participate in American society generates significant positive impacts for both […]
Protesters plan to shut down Baldwin immigration prison before it can open*
Updated and corrected, 4:01 p.m. 10/2/19 The North Lake Correctional Facility is set to become Michigan’s first and only private, for-profit immigrant prison when it opens Tuesday morning. Immigration activists around the state are keen on not letting that happen.* Formerly known as the Michigan Youth Correctional Facility, the GEO Group-owned prison had previously been […]
Gov., local communities celebrate ‘Welcoming Week’ for immigrants
Many Michigan municipalities are celebrating the state’s diversity and immigrant population at the eighth annual “Welcoming Week.” The weeklong event is sponsored by Welcoming Michigan, a project of the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, a legal resource center for Michigan’s immigrant communities with branches in Washtenaw County, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. The project works to help […]
Prior to Trump’s ‘public charge’ rule, state reminds immigrants of rights to public benefits
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is reminding immigrants of their rights after the President Trump administration’s so-called “public charge rule” was finalized last month. The new rule, if passed, would bar illegal and legal immigrants who receive public benefits, including food stamps, Medicaid, welfare or housing assistance, from gaining citizenship. MDHHS […]
Amy Greene: These women’s accomplishments tell another story of America
Two American Democratic representatives have been forbidden to enter Israel: “What are Trump and Netanyahu afraid of?” questioned the New York Times in an op-ed stating that such a decision “shows weakness and intolerance, not strength”. The two Democratic representatives are Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, and Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib. Together with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York’s […]
Dems decry Trump’s rhetoric at ‘Take on Hate’ rally
Several Michigan Democrats and more than 40 organizations rallied in Dearborn Thursday night to combat the rise of “hateful rhetoric.” The small event of about 100 people gathered at the University of Michigan-Dearborn titled, “Take on Hate,” was spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn), and included her colleagues U.S. Reps. Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Twp.) […]
Grand Rapids police set guidelines for interaction with immigrants
The Grand Rapids Police Department announced Friday its new policy for interacting with non-citizens, which will forbid the department from, among other things, asking about immigration status or threatening deportation. The city says its new “foreign nationals policy” is meant to “ensure equal enforcement of the law and equal service to the public regardless of […]