LANSING, Mich. (Jan. 20, 2026) — Today, Sens. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.), Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), and Jeremy Moss (D-Bloomfield) uplifted their legislation to protect the safety of Michiganders, immigrant and non-immigrant alike, from the dangerous immigration enforcement tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) that are endorsed by D.C. Republicans. As the Legislature has begun its 2026 work, the Senators reiterated how critical this legislation is to protect our communities.
Unethical, terrorizing immigration enforcement tactics have been increasing across the nation under the second Trump administration. Most alarmingly, the killing of Renee Nicole Good and continued violence by ICE agents in Minneapolis have exemplified the malicious nature of ICE operations and is only one of the latest on a growing list of incidents that have happened during ICE and CBP operations.
“As the proud daughter of a Mexican immigrant and chair of the Michigan Legislative Latino Caucus, I will always stand with Michigan’s vibrant immigrant communities that have long shaped the very fabric of our state and nation. Every resident in our state, no matter their citizenship status, deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and basic human decency,” said Sen. Cavanagh. “The federal administration’s immigrant enforcement tactics are creating panic, not protection! ICE agents do not — and should never — have the authority to intimidate, kidnap, or bring harm to our communities. I’ll continue fighting to ensure everyone is afforded the fundamental right to safety and security in their neighborhoods, workplaces, and places of worship.”
“Everyone, regardless of immigration status, deserves to feel safe and welcome in their own homes, dropping their kids off at school, at courthouses, and getting help as a victim of a crime,” said Sen. Chang. “We must do better to protect the safety and rights of every Michigander. No one deserves to have their privacy rights violated or to be ripped away from their family because of out-of-control ICE and CBP tactics. More and more Americans and Michiganders are calling on leaders to put a stop to these actions as soon as possible and I will continue to make this commonsense legislation a top priority in 2026.”
More specifically, Senate Bills 508–510 and Senate Resolution 86 would:
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Ensure the safety and dignity of Michigan residents by designating schools, places of worship, hospitals, courthouses, and organizations providing services to pregnant women, victims of crime, or disabled individuals as protected spaces from immigration enforcement, unless there is imminent public danger or a judicial warrant;
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Protect the privacy of personal information by prohibiting government entities from giving personal identifying information to others for the purposes of immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant; and
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Prevent law enforcement officers from wearing masks to conceal their identity unless they are conducting an undercover operation or other permittable instances.
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Urge Congress to pass legislation at the federal level regarding the wearing of face covering masks by ICE agents and protect sensitive locations
Senate Bill 508 is largely based off existing policies used by ICE for over a decade, including during the first Trump administration. The Michigan Supreme Court this week heard strong public testimony in favor of a proposed court rule that would limit civil arrests at Michigan courthouses; Senate Bill 508 would place this protection into law and Sens. Cavanagh, Chang and Moss submitted a public comment letter in support of the court rule.
“ICE is out of control. After a year of tearing families apart, violating due process, and, now, causing fatal violence in the street, we must rein in the agency and hold it to account. These officers, themselves, are not above the law,” said Sen. Moss. “Michigan thrives with healthy immigrant communities, and we need to stand up and protect their rights.”