FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DETROIT - The ACLU of Michigan Executive Director Loren Khogali issued the following statement regarding the Michigan House of Representatives scapegoating our immigrant neighbors and friends:
“Over the last few days, Speaker Matt Hall and the Republican House majority have made it clear that they are more interested in scapegoating immigrants than actually solving problems for the people of Michigan. They have pushed forward blatantly discriminatory and bigoted legislation that attacks all our state’s diverse communities, using fear and momentary political power to sow division. Every vote taken by our legislature is an opportunity to help or to harm people—and this House majority has chosen to harm people.
“One of the House majority’s latest attacks seeks to bar certain “foreign persons” from owning property in our state. This is not just discriminatory—it is an outright endorsement of xenophobia. Property ownership should never be restricted based on nationality or immigration status. This sort of legislative fearmongering has no place in Michigan.
“Similarly, instead of working toward expanding driver’s license access—a common-sense policy that research has shown improves public safety and economic mobility, House lawmakers turned it into yet another political weapon. The ability to drive legally impacts jobs, health care access, and basic dignity. By ignoring the real-life consequences for families in Michigan, these legislators make clear that they are not interested in strengthening our families, building our economy or protecting the residents of our state. They use their political power to play games rather than do what is right and sensible.
“The ACLU of Michigan condemns these hateful, harmful actions. Political games have real life consequences that hurt people. What these lawmakers fail to see is that harm inflicted on one community, harms us all. This state’s strength comes from its rich, multicultural diversity. When lawmakers attack, exclude, and marginalize people – neighbors, schoolmates, co-workers, families and friends – they weaken our state. We demand that the legislature stop scapegoating our immigrant communities and start doing the work they were elected to do as public servants—building a fairer, safer, and more prosperous Michigan for everyone.”
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