In his State of the State address, Governor Snyder noted that welcoming immigrants to Michigan is essential for our economic recovery.
Apparently no one sent Rep. David Agema the memo.
Rep. Agema has introduced HB 4305, a state bill that requires police to demand the immigration papers they suspect of being in the country illegally.
Like the Arizona law it's based on, HB 4305 will encourage racial profiling, waste law enforcement resources, and discourage people and businesses from coming to Michigan.
In reality, statistics show immigrants in Michigan are nearly three times as likely to start a small business and create jobs.
Passing legislation ensuring racial profiling and creating a hostile environment for immigrants would damage our economy by discouraging businesses from relocating to Michigan.
"Laws like this are put forward as a public safety issue, but they are not a public safety solution," said Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, voicing his opposal to Arizona's immigration bill.
The same is true of Rep. Agema's HB 4305. The bill would require local police to divert public safety resources to interfere in immigration.
America was founded, built and funded by immigrants. Backward legislation like HB 4305 would do nothing but legitimize discrimination, hurt our communities and waste police resources.
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By Maggie McGuire, Communications Associate