LANSING, Mich. — Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt supported a plan introduced by Senate Republicans on Wednesday to do what President Joe Biden and Democrats have failed to do — enforce our U.S. immigration laws and protect our local communities.
“Joe Biden’s disastrous open border policies have led to a crisis of proportions never experienced before in our nation’s history — small communities and major U.S. cities are being overrun beyond their capacities, while fentanyl continues to flood into our communities with tragic consequences,” said Nesbitt, R-Porter Township.
The Strong Borders, Safe Communities plan includes increased penalties for the creation, manufacturing, delivery, or possession of fentanyl and requires every Michigan community to enforce state and federal immigration laws, ending the practice of so-called “sanctuary cities.” Additionally, the plan calls on the president and Congress to immediately and fully resolve the border crisis.
“These issues are not limited to our nation’s southern border. Our border with Canada also experienced a massive 550% increase in apprehensions during the 2023 fiscal year, surpassing all numbers seen in the past decade combined. These growing concerns call for urgent attention, and the Legislature has a duty to the people of Michigan to act in order to protect our communities,” Nesbitt said.
In 2023, more than 27,000 pounds of fentanyl was seized at the border — an 860% increase compared to 2019 and enough to kill millions of Americans. Drug overdose deaths reached a new high in 2023 and are now the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45. Approximately 3,000 Michiganders die each year due to overdoses.
“We now have clear evidence that self-declared sanctuary cities — local communities that have chosen not to enforce immigration laws — are a failed experiment,” Nesbitt said. “These communities are now being overwhelmed by illegal immigrants that they do not have the space or resources to accommodate. We must protect Michigan communities against becoming sanctuaries for chaos and harm against the public good.”
The mayor of Denver, a self-declared “sanctuary city,” has recently said an additional $100 million is needed for the housing, schooling, and health care of more than 40,000 migrants, both legal and illegal, that have been added to its population of just over 700,000.
The city of Chicago has also been overwhelmed by an influx of migrants as parks and community centers have been turned into shelters. The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago have appropriated nearly $800 million to provide services to address this issue — money that could otherwise fight crime and help Chicago’s failing schools and housing shortage.
###