Latest news with #MIRC
CBS News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Metro Detroit's Taylor Police Department signs agreement with ICE
The Taylor Police Department has become the second law enforcement agency in Michigan to sign an agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In 1996, Congress passed an immigration reform law, which included the 287(g) program. The agreement allows officers to act as immigration agents. Under the agreement, there are three models, and the Taylor Police Department signed the Task Force version. "It does not change our day-to-day activities. There's no modification whatsoever to our department policies or procedures, and nothing changes. (It) doesn't cost us a penny," said Taylor Police Chief John Blair. Blair says if a Taylor police officer comes across someone during a criminal enforcement activity, such as drunk driving, they can be arrested and identified. "We are required by law to identify who they are. It's all common sense in the process of identifying who they are. If we determine that they're in this country illegally, we will contact ICE. That is the extent of our participation in this program," he said. Immigrant Rights advocates say there's more to it. "In addition to stopping someone for suspicion of a crime, they now can stop someone solely on the basis of immigration violations. That is dramatically different," said Christine Sauve, a policy, engagement, and communications manager at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC). Blair says if he hadn't signed the agreement, the police department would have been impacted, such as losing federal funding. MIRC calls it an empty threat from the Trump administration. "First of all, it's not a mandate. So there's no federal policy that requires local jurisdictions to enroll in the program," Suave said. The chief insists that law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear. "We are not kicking in doors. We are not going to people's workplaces. We are not going to schools and questioning people. We're not watching people that are standing on corners and asking their immigration status. That is not what this is. And we have never done that, and we will never do that," Blair said.
CBS News
26-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Michigan attorney speaks on federal cuts to legal service funding for migrant children
The Trump administration recently ended a federal contract that offers legal representation to more than 26,000 migrant children who enter the U.S. without a parent or guardian. Nearly 800 of those children are in Michigan. "Eight hundred children will lose their advocates, they will lose counsel, they will lose they will have to essentially proceed on their own in immigration court," said Ruby Robinson, senior managing attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC). Robinson says this funding allows his team to provide comprehensive legal care for the hundreds of children who go through the process daily, including paying for the lawyers who advocate for them. "One of the main reasons for these services is to prevent exploitation and trafficking and to ensure that children have access to the critical supports and services, and by taking away counsel, it undermines those efforts," said Robinson. Robinson says many of the children in the process do not read or speak English or are too young to even communicate at all, leaving them vulnerable to faster deportation. "It is cruel to require a child to participate in an immigration process by themselves, to be held to the same standard as an adult or an adult with counsel," said Robinson. While MIRC does have donor support, Robinson says federal funding accounts for nearly 80 percent of its budget. "We've been successful, in raising money, but it's not at the scale that we need to be able to preserve representation and assistance to the children who are here in Michigan and certainly nationally," said Robinson. Robinson says his team is now focused on helping its fellow community organizations weather these changes and find ways to support those who need them. "We will do our best to advocate as long as we can, with the staffing that we have and the funding that we have for our clients," said Robinson.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Staffing cuts looming, immigration attorneys worry for children
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center is urging the Trump administration to reverse course after it reportedly ordered agencies to stop providing legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. The organization, with offices in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, provides legal services to 800 immigrant children across Michigan. The group says those children are now at risk of losing legal representation. 'Many of these children are at risk of being sent back to those dangerous and abusive environments in their home countries,' said managing attorney Elizabeth Santana, who is based out of Kalamazoo and works unaccompanied minor cases. Michigan Immigration Rights Center ordered to stop work on program The stop-work order came from the Department of Interior. The organizations like MIRC rely on federal money. MIRC said the order will affect 80% of its staffing. Santana says the kids range from just 10 months old to teenagers. They include those who crossed the border alone, were trafficked or abused. She said the organization also connects the children with 'safe caregivers,' relatives or other individuals that provide them a home. Santana argues that because the children are so young, they can't navigate complex immigration court without an attorney by their side. 'Children are among the most vulnerable,' she said. 'They're without their parents or caregivers — that's what an unaccompanied child is.' The group says 26,000 children nationally are at risk of losing their legal representation. Santana says MIRC will continue to serve its current Michigan clients as long as it can, but the large staffing cut makes things challenging. 'It doesn't mean we can just stop everything we're doing because we have those ethical obligations as attorneys,' she said. Justice Department rescinds stop-work order for programs that provide guidance in immigration courts News 8 reached out to several West Michigan Republicans Wednesday for comment. They either weren't available for an interview or did not respond by the time of publication. The Interior Department has also not provided a statement. The stop-work order comes as the Trump administration continues to cut federal spending. It has also suspended federal funding for groups that help resettle refugees in the U.S. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Express Tribune
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
There is more to life than just a breakup: Atif Aslam
In this month of love, if you want to help get over a break-up, singer Atif Aslam has the perfect advice: just be happy that it happened and move on. Filming a special behind-the-scenes video of his upcoming Qatar concert, Atif delighted fans with a candid nearly 15-minute video on his YouTube channel on Thursday where he answered questions about anything they could think of, ranging from whether or prefers chocolate cake or a cookie ("A cookie!") to the inspiration behind his cult hit Aadat ("It came from a place of loneliness"), or, as a fan from Delhi asked, how he could best advise her to get over a breakup. "Congratulations, this is the best thing you could have done for yourself!" exclaimed Atif in his vlog, breaking into a smile. To make it clear, Atif is not against romantic love per se; as a successful musician and a happily married man and father, he is merely in a place where he understands that it is not the end-all or be-all – as his subsequent words explained. "I'm very proud of you. Life is about more than just breakups and relationships!" stressed Atif. "Make your career, flourish in it. "And then make enough money so that a relationship is something you will find yourself." Navigating marriage It was not just moving past a broken relationship that Atif offered advice on – the singer also gave a little window into the machinations of his own marriage, and how he personally tackles conflict. In answer to another fan's question about how he handles fights with his wife of nearly 12 years, Sara Bharwana, Atif baldly stated, "When my wife is upset with me, I just say sorry. It's as simple as that." Atif confessed, however, that learning how to apologise is not something that has always come easily or naturally to him, and that he has worked on his conflict-resolution skills since tying the knot. "I have heard from friends that getting the word sorry out of me is the hardest thing ever, and I reflected on that," mused Atif. "I realised it is a form of ego, and I also know that Allah does not like ego at all." Passing on the torch, Atif added, "So when you feel something is your fault and someone makes you realise it, and you understand they are right, don't be stubborn!" Looking back on 'Aadat' Atif reflected that there was a time when he could have never imagined that the success of Aadat (2004) would catapult him to where he is today. "The backstory of Aadat is that I was going through a breakup," said Atif in answer to a query. "There were certain elements of my life and I knew I would rather communicate through lyrics and melody. Our social media was MIRC chatrooms and dial-up networks. I never imagined it would become as popular as it did." Juggling family and career When asked about how he balances touring and meeting the needs of his family, Atif credited his parents for introducing him to the concept of prayer, which he says keeps him grounded. "That is ultimately everything," noted Atif, and also made special mention of his wife Sara's support. "I've been blessed with a beautiful wife – she is my support system, and if she was not there, I wouldn't be here now," said the Tere Bin singer warmly. "She is my backup." Contrary to people's images of a music star coming with a big ego, Atif – a self-professed introvert ("No one told me that we need to talk!") who found a way to express his feelings via music – added that the only reason he had undertaken the vlog in the first place was so that his fans had asked for it. His fans, in turn, have loved him for it. "I never want Atif Aslam to end," penned a commenter. "He is the one who makes me feel like I am in a relationship even when I am single." Bowled over by Atif's candid video, another fan added, "Love how sweet, humble, approachable, and a little bit silly he is!"
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michigan immigrant rights advocates gear up to combat Trump's ICE policies
Pro-immigration protest outside the second Democratic debate in Detroit in 2019 | Ken Coleman Michigan is already seeing attendance issues at schools after the Trump administration repealed long-standing rules barring immigration agents from making immigration-related arrests at schools and churches last month, Elly Jordan, an attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC), said on a Wednesday media call with education professionals and immigrant rights advocates. No one should be afraid to go to school, Jordan and other advocates said, but the reality is kids and their families in Michigan are scared to separate from their families during the school day. In addition to promises to spread out Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents across the country to local communities that have protective policies in place for immigrant residents, the Trump administration in January eliminated protections from migrant arrests in 'sensitive' areas such as schools, churches and hospitals. 'We know that the simple act of rescinding the sensitive locations policy, regardless of whether immigration enforcement actions are actually carried out in such locations, creates a chilling effect, so much that even some U.S. citizen children are afraid to go to school and participate in sports after school activities and nutritional programs that promote their well-being,' Jordan said. Although they are not identifying any geographic areas of concern for safety reasons, Jordan said MIRC has heard from clients and communities across the state who are reporting that families are afraid to send their kids to school. Jordan added that in the days following the Trump order revoking protection for schools as sensitive areas, one Michigan school reported that only half their students attended classes. When kids go to school, the biggest problem they should have is to worry about is how they'll do on their math test, not that immigration agents will show up to take them away from their family, said Miriam Aukerman, senior staff attorney for the ACLU of Michigan. When announcing the policy change, Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman said the revocation of exemption would help agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforcement better keep law and order in the U.S. 'This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens — including murders and rapists — who have illegally come into our country,' Huffman said. 'Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.' But kids are legally entitled to an education under the U.S. Constitution and the Michigan Constitution, regardless of immigration status, Aukerman said. In fact, schools have a legal responsibility to respect students' rights and protect their confidential information. Aukerman and others said there's so much on the line for Michigan families who want the best for their children. For members of the education community who share that concern, there are things they can do. As schools navigate what to do if immigration agents come to their schools, the ACLU of Michigan and MIRC sent a letter at the end of January outlining what school employees and families can do to protect students in Michigan schools. One of the first steps the letter recommends is school districts create plans and procedures in consultation with legal counsel to prepare for immigration enforcement officials showing up in the vicinity of schools, bus stops and school functions. The letter also argues that administrative warrants, which ICE commonly utilizes, do not allow ICE the authority to enter non-public property at schools. Schools are advised to consult legal resources to address any requests for access agents may ask for and to only narrowly provide information and access that is required by law. And ultimately as the new administration creates policies and orders that create fear, Aukerman said it's crucial to remember that there is power and safety in sticking together and looking out for one another. 'These are not our values. Targeting kids and families is un-American,' Aukerman said. 'Many people have asked me, 'What can we do in this moment?' Here's one thing anyone in any community in Michigan can do right now: Go to your school board and ask them to adopt the best practices in this letter, because that's what Michigan kids deserve.' aclu-mirc-letter-to-schools-12725 SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
