Things Get Heated Over Dems' ICE Enforcement Restriction Bills

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 11/06/2025) Heated exchanges erupted in the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee Thursday between Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) and supporters of bills to prohibit immigration enforcement in hospitals, schools and places of worship, as well as outlawing officers from wearing masks or disguises.

At one point, Runestad called out meeting attendees for having a "laughing cough" as he challenged the bills.

In late February 2024, as immigration was already becoming one of the last election cycle's hottest issues, Runestad took a trip to McAllen, Texas, along the U.S./Mexico border. It was through this lens that he viewed immigration, in general.

"The number of states that have chosen to do this, I'm sure, were also the states that were in agreement with the . . . 40 million people who poured across the border. When I was down there, talking to local, federal and state law enforcement, it was 40 million people (who) came here illegally," Runestad said. "There's been over a 1,000 percent increase in assaults on ICE (officers) and their family members."

Thursday afternoon, more than one hour of testimony took place around SB 508 by Sen. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.), SB 509 by committee Chair Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) and SB 510 by Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Bloomfield Twp.).

SB 508 would have the state list designated "sensitive locations" for immigration-related law enforcement activities in Michigan. It would include schools, places of worship, hospitals, courthouses and organizations serving pregnant women, crime victims and disabled folks.

SB 509 ensures individuals' personal information cannot be shared without a judicial warrant for the purposes of immigration. It would include a person's photograph, name, telephone number, signature or medical details.

“If there is no warrant and the government entity believes that the requester is intending to use that personal information for immigration enforcement, they shall not provide that personal information,” Chang said.

Also, under SB 509, government entities every March would need to provide the Attorney General and legislators with information on how many personal information requests they received and how many were granted or denied.

Moss' SB 510 prohibits law enforcement officers from being masked outside undercover operations or if the masks are protecting them from airborne diseases or toxins.

Outside undercover scenarios, Moss said officers must wear uniforms displaying their name and badge number to the public.

Because U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are federal personnel, state statutes cannot directly impact them. However, legislatures could try to influence their conduct through the 287(g) Program under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act.

The program allows ICE enforcement and removal operations to partner with local law enforcement agencies.

Runestad argued that ICE officers face an "unbelievable, unprecedented" number of threats. In response, Moss brought up how last month, law enforcement responded to a bomb threat made to his residence. Runestad noted he recently experienced a threat to kill his family.

"It's horrible. We have made a choice to endeavor in public service, and as we take votes in the Senate, we haven't changed our processes to take our votes by secret ballot," Moss said. "When you choose to sign up to be in that public sphere, you have a responsibility for transparency in how you carry out your job. You should not be a masked vigilante, because we are not masked vigilantes in our job."

One of Thursday’s testifiers was Emily Nguyen, the policy and political director of the Detroit-based Rising Voices, a project of the Center for Empowered Politics.

Her group advocates for the growing Asian populations moving into Michigan, like Bengalis moving to Detroit, Hamtramck and throughout Macomb County, as well as Southeast Asians locating in Kentwood and Holland in West Michigan.

Nguyen said the Michigan League for Public Policy – another supporter of Thursday’s bills – reported that immigrants represent 28 percent of all physicians in the state.

"At a time when we are still recovering from the impact of COVID and facing a severe healthcare worker shortage. We should be doing everything we can to retain and protect physicians, not drive them away," Nguyen said.

She illustrated how in September, a father was arrested moments after dropping his child off at Ann Arbor's Lakewood Elementary School. The next day, ICE confirmed an arrest was made in the neighborhood near the school, and following further review, it was determined the subject was not amenable to removal from the country.

Based on MLive's coverage in Ann Arbor, the individual was promptly released, and agents did not ever approach school property during the arrest.

"A parent dropping off their child at school should not have to worry about being detained for simply daring to provide the child with an education," Nguyen said. "If this continues to happen, we are going to fundamentally change how children view education. It will go from being the place to unlock their future to the place that was used to take away their family."

Another testifier was Cindy Gamboa, the executive director of MI Poder, a non-profit advocating for Michigan's Latin American communities.

Gamboa, who is based in Detroit, explained her neighbor, Claudia, stopped taking her children to school out of fear of ICE arrests, looking for others to drive them. She added that last week, one of her relatives received a phone call "from someone using leaked personal information, luring them into an ICE office."

"Now no one had to tell me about these cases. I personally have been through this, and you're going to hear more stories," Gamboa said. "I am a citizen of the United States, and the color of my skin doesn't allow me to feel safe in my own community. I do carry around . . . my passport just to make sure I have proof and that I'm not further harassed."

Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) gave five minutes of remarks about federal agents "muddying the waters" in distinguishing legal and illegal immigrants by stalking neighborhoods, churches and "investigating every person who looks or sounds like they might not be from here."

Runestad, who had his comments cut before Thursday, pushed against Irwin for using the committee to make remarks instead of asking questions.

"Senator Runestad, you make more comments than anyone else here in this committee, and personally I like giving you the latitude to make these comments because I believe in truth in advertising, and I want everyone to know what you and your party stand for," Irwin said.