Immigration Enforcement and Fraud Act

A bill to enforce federal immigration law in Michigan; to eliminate immigration-related fraud; to mandate universal E-Verify; to prohibit sanctuary policies and withhold funding from non-cooperative jurisdictions; to require proof of lawful status for state benefits; to authorize 287(g) agreements and local enforcement support; to create an Immigration Fraud Task Force; to impose enhanced penalties, asset forfeiture, and removal referrals; to strengthen eligibility verification; to support merit-based legal immigration and American-worker protections; and to restore the rule of law and protect Michigan taxpayers and workers.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Section 1. Short Title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Michigan Immigration Enforcement and Fraud Prevention Act.”

Section 2. Legislative Findings.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Illegal immigration and widespread fraud in the immigration system impose substantial costs on Michigan taxpayers, strain public services, depress wages for American workers, and undermine the rule of law.

(b) Full cooperation with federal immigration authorities, rigorous verification of eligibility for public benefits, universal employment authorization checks, and aggressive prosecution of document, marriage, asylum, and benefits fraud are necessary to protect citizens and lawful residents.

(c) Michigan supports lawful immigration that serves the national interest and the economic needs of the State while rejecting illegal presence and fraudulent claims.

(d) All actions under this act shall be conducted in accordance with the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Michigan, due process of law, and applicable federal statutes.

Section 3. Definitions.

As used in this act:

(a) “Immigration fraud” means the knowing use of false documents, false statements, sham marriages, fraudulent asylum or visa claims, identity theft, or other deception to obtain immigration status, employment authorization, or public benefits.

(b) “Sanctuary policy” means any ordinance, resolution, or practice that prohibits or restricts a state or local agency from cooperating with federal immigration authorities or honoring ICE detainers.

(c) “SAVE” means the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program or its successor.

Section 4. Full Cooperation with Federal Immigration Enforcement.

(1) All Michigan law-enforcement agencies shall honor ICE detainers and fully cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Homeland Security in the enforcement of federal immigration law.

(2) State resources, facilities, and data shall be made available to support interior enforcement and removals to the maximum extent permitted by federal law.

(3) Michigan shall facilitate its proportional contribution to national removal priorities, with emphasis on criminal aliens, national-security threats, recent illegal entrants, and visa overstays.

Section 5. Universal E-Verify Mandate.

(1) Every employer in this State shall use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the work authorization of all new hires.

(2) Repeat violators shall be subject to escalating civil fines and, upon subsequent violations, revocation or suspension of state-issued business or professional licenses. No industry-wide exemptions are permitted.

Section 6. Prohibition on Sanctuary Policies.

(1) No state agency, county, city, township, university, or other political subdivision shall adopt or enforce a sanctuary policy.

(2) The State Treasurer shall withhold state funding, including revenue sharing and grants, from any non-compliant jurisdiction until the Attorney General certifies full compliance.

Section 7. Benefits and Eligibility Verification.

(1) Proof of U.S. citizenship or qualified lawful status shall be required for all state-funded benefits, including Medicaid, cash assistance, housing assistance, and in-state tuition, except where federal law expressly requires otherwise.

(2) Agencies shall systematically cross-check applicants with SAVE and other federal verification systems.

(3) Knowingly providing false information to obtain benefits constitutes a felony under state law in addition to any federal offense.

Section 8. Local Law-Enforcement Authority.

Michigan sheriffs and police departments are authorized and encouraged to enter into 287(g) agreements and to perform immigration functions permitted under federal law. The Department of State Police shall provide training and coordination support.

Section 9. Immigration Fraud Task Force.

(1) An Immigration Fraud Task Force is established under the Attorney General, working with the Michigan State Police and federal partners.

(2) The Task Force shall target document fraud and identity-theft rings, sham marriages and fraudulent family-based petitions, fraudulent asylum, refugee, and visa claims, and healthcare, welfare, or tax fraud committed in connection with unlawful presence or false immigration status.

(3) The Task Force shall have subpoena authority and shall coordinate closely with federal prosecutors and immigration authorities.

Section 10. Penalties, Forfeiture, and Removal.

(1) Immigration fraud under this act is a felony subject to mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment scaled to the severity and scope of the offense.

(2) Non-citizens convicted of immigration fraud shall be referred immediately for removal proceedings.

(3) Assets derived from immigration fraud are subject to forfeiture; proceeds shall be applied to restitution, enforcement, and border-security support.

(4) Persons who commit immigration fraud may be subject to lifetime bars on future state benefits and, where authorized by federal law, on future immigration benefits.

Section 11. Asylum, Refugee, and Legal-Immigration Policy.

(1) State agencies shall cooperate with federal authorities to identify and challenge fraudulent asylum claims, particularly those lacking a credible basis in persecution.

(2) The State calls for a pause on new refugee resettlement into Michigan until vetting, cost analysis, and assimilation standards are strengthened, and shall prioritize genuine refugees who demonstrate commitment to American civic values.

(3) Michigan supports national merit-based immigration reforms that favor skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and rapid assimilators, and that protect Michigan workers from wage depression and displacement in construction, manufacturing, and service sectors.

(4) Civics, English, and American-values instruction for new legal permanent residents is strongly encouraged.

Section 12. Transparency and Public Dashboard.

(1) A public immigration-enforcement dashboard shall report, to the maximum extent permitted by law:

(a) Number of detainers honored and removals facilitated;

(b) Fraud cases investigated and prosecuted;

(c) Estimated costs of illegal immigration to Michigan taxpayers (education, healthcare, welfare, incarceration); and

(d) Savings achieved through enforcement and fraud recovery.

(2) An annual report shall be submitted to the Legislature with recommendations for further action.

Section 13. Implementation.

(1) Within 90 days state agencies shall implement E-Verify compliance systems, benefits-verification protocols, and full ICE-cooperation directives.

(2) The Immigration Fraud Task Force shall be operational within 90 days.

(3) The State shall work closely with federal authorities on interior enforcement and the termination of catch-and-release practices.

Section 14. Severability.

If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act and the application of its provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.

Section 15. Effective Date.

This act takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Enacting Section.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Enforce the Law. Stop the Fraud.

Put Michigan Citizens First.

Secure Borders. Honest System. Prosperous Michigan. Michigan First.