Michigan impact of immigration crackdowns
Michigan immigration advocates say they're seeing a sharp rise in arrests.
The surge follows a dramatic shift in federal priorities by President Donald Trump.
The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center says intake calls tripled as of last month.
DETROIT (FOX 2) - A growing number of immigrant families in Michigan are feeling the effects of a nationwide crackdown.
Advocates say arrests at ICE check-ins and court hearings are happening more often and the pressure is building.
Local perspective
Across Michigan, immigration advocates say they're seeing a sharp rise in arrests, especially at court hearings and ICE check-ins.
"For several weeks now we've been seeing more arrests at ICE check-ins and at immigration court hearings. This started happening earlier in other states, but it's now happening pretty frequently in Michigan," said Christine Sauvé with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.
Big picture view
The surge follows a dramatic shift in federal priorities. Since President Donald Trump took office, the number of people booked into immigration detention for civil immigration violations alone has skyrocketed by more than 800%, jumping from about 860 in January to 7,800 in June. Many have no criminal record.
"These arrests have already been possible, but it was very rare and usually meant that a person had violated conditions of their removal or an extreme exceptions," Sauvé said.
The effects are rippling through local communities. The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center says intake calls tripled as of last month.
"It is very difficult to keep up with the demand. We can't meet the demand and the need for legal advice for everyone in Michigan who needs it at this moment," Sauvé said.
What they're saying
The group says it's the only statewide organization in Michigan regularly receiving calls from people in immigration detention and says many immigrants come to the US legally.
"This administration really has dismantled the many legal pathways that existed for immigrants to enter the country," said Sauvé.
The other side
The Trump administration defends the crackdown as a matter of law and order, saying the arrests protect public safety, deter illegal crossings, and fulfill campaign promises.
Officials argue it's a course correction after years of leniency.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
"I've had enough... I'm refusing to back down": Rep. Nicole Collier confined inside TX State Capitol
'I've had enough, just like the American people have had enough of the Trump takeover.' Texas state Democratic Rep. Nicole Collier spoke to MSNBC from the Texas State Capitol on Monday. Collier made the decision to confine herself inside after the Texas GOP required police surveillance as a condition for her release. She is refusing to sign a waiver for the law enforcement escort. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Congress plans to release Epstein files to public after it gets them on Friday: report
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform plans to release some files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to the public after receiving the material from the Department of Justice on Friday. The panel is expected to start receiving materials it subpoenaed related to Epstein on Friday. The group will redact sensitive information, including victims' identities, before it is released, a committee spokesperson confirmed to CNN. 'The Committee intends to make the records public after thorough review to ensure all victims' identification and child sexual abuse material are redacted. The Committee will also consult with the DOJ to ensure any documents released do not negatively impact ongoing criminal cases and investigations,' the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the committee would work with the Justice Department on the release, but declined to say when it could be expected. News that the Department of Justice would start providing records related to Epstein to Congress was first shared on Monday by the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Rep. James Comer. The disclosures to Congress come after the Justice Department concluded in July that no further disclosures about Epstein were warranted. This is a breaking news story...
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Gov. DeSantis says Florida suing textbook giants over high prices, 'woke' content
Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida is suing two major textbook publishers he described as pushing 'egregious' content in its instructional materials. Attorney General James Uthmeier filed suit Aug. 19 against McGraw Hill and Savvas Learning Co., specifically accusing the two publishers of overcharging Florida school districts for its textbooks. But DeSantis also noted concerns he's had with the textbook materials as well, saying its "egregious" content is not "aligned with our standards." At a news conference in St. Cloud, DeSantis said the lawsuit includes civil penalties that could amount between $37.5 million and $60.5 million between the two publishers. He said if the state is successful, funds from the lawsuit would go back to the school districts. "To see some of the stuff they are trying to pull, it's not going to fly here," DeSantis said. A request for comment is pending with the Florida Department of Education on how much money school districts and the department are paying in contracts with the two publishers. The 26-page complaint filed in Leon County alleges that the publishers are violating Florida law, which requires them to give each Florida school district the lowest price offered to any other district in the country. Education Commissioner Anastasios "Stasi" Kamoutsas, who also attended, said he's "committed to holding publishers accountable, whether it's in content or cost." He said the publishers have included critical race theory, intersectionality and White privilege in math, science and social studies textbooks, saying it "has no business there." (Intersectionality is often defined as the study of how social and political identities combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and privilege.) "If publishers choose to add that content in their textbooks, they will not be approved, and they will be not be sold in Florida schools," Kamoutsas said. Tyler Reed, a spokesperson for McGraw Hill, said in a statement that the company believes the attorney general's claims lack "factual and legal merit on multiple grounds." "We plan to defend our position vigorously," Reed said. "We continually invest in our content in order to fully align with Florida standards, support Florida schools and education Florida students with maximum efficacy." In its statement, Savvas Learning Co. said its policies and procedures comply with applicable laws regarding the sale of its instructional materials for schools. And it denies charging Florida school districts more than the state contract price. "We will not publicly comment any further on this litigation and will defend our company vigorously against the allegations made by the Florida attorney general," the statement read. Only one publisher: As DeSantis administration rejects textbooks, only one publisher allowed for K-5 math classes in Florida This isn't DeSantis' first issue with these publishers. In 2022, the governor only approved one publisher for K-5 mathematics, Accelerate Learning. He chose them over McGraw Hill and Savvas, formerly known as Pearson K12 Learning. At the time, the state's Department of Education described concerns with textbooks, including "prohibited topics" like critical race theory. That year, DeSantis signed the "Stop WOKE Act," which restricted how race is discussed in schools, college and workplaces. This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@ On X: @stephanymatat. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis lawsuit hits publishers for overcharges, 'egregious' content Solve the daily Crossword
