(Source: MIRS.news, Published 01/30/2025) Bills designed to support President Donald Trump's federal crackdown on illegal immigration are being put forward by a pair of Senate Republicans. 

Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Coldwater)'s SB 40 creates a task force called the Developing Effective Policies on Orderly Removal (DEPORT). The members would be tasked with “identifying key federal, state, and local policies regarding illegal immigration and propose solutions that ensure Michigan is doing its part to help facilitate federal deportation efforts." 

House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) would appoint 15 people to serve on DEPORT, including state legislators, local officials, law enforcement and “experts in combating human and drug trafficking.”  

“It is imperative that the state of Michigan work with the Trump administration and federal immigration agencies to stop the crisis of illegal immigration and that we remove any state or local barriers. We must take every step possible to ensure the public’s safety, the security of our economy, and to defend the integrity of our immigration system,” Lindsey said.  

In related news, Sen. Thomas Albert (R-Lowell) introduced a series of bills making entering Michigan without going through the formal citizenship process a state-level crime. The bills require local law enforcement to comply with federal deportation efforts.   

SB 42 and SB 43 allow immigrants to avoid state prosecution “if they agree to return to their foreign homeland via a legal port of entry.”  

SB 42 and SB 43 also require local law enforcement to make “reasonable efforts” to determine the immigration status of criminal offenders and mandate local jails to comply with federal immigration authorities.   

The bill package would also create an Immigration and Customs Support Fund and “support local law enforcement cooperation with federal authorities through grants.” Albert introduced versions of SB 42 and SB 43 during last year’s legislative session.   

“The border has been broken for so long, it’s unrealistic to expect the federal government to fix this crisis alone,” Albert said. “Every state feels the strain on public resources, and it also raises public safety concerns. The state of Michigan should assist in efforts to keep our borders secure as part of the overall effort to combat the flow of drugs, human trafficking and other crimes.”  

Lindsey criticized the Senate for not formally reading his bill during session.   

“The Democrat majority only scheduled two days of work this week, and both days refused to allow new legislation to be read in and formally introduced in the chamber,” Lindsey said. “I turned this bill in days ago, and there has been no progress. This is an outright failure to fulfill their constitutional duty and most basic job as lawmakers. I hope next week we are able to resume business and will be allowed by Senate leadership to do the job we were elected to do.”