Building a Welcoming Michigan
2026 Policy Platform
Preamble
Driven by our faith’s call to welcome the stranger, Strangers No Longer is committed to walking alongside our immigrant neighbors in prayer, hope, and action for a Michigan that upholds the dignity of all human beings and values the contributions of every resident of our great state.
Through our direct accompaniment of immigrant communities statewide, we have identified five central themes that unite us as one people. These themes are not simply common ground between U.S.-born and foreign-born Americans, but rather a declaration of our shared humanity, rooted in solidarity and the common good.
For Michigan to be a welcoming state, the following should hold for all families and residents:
What are we fighting for
Five policy priorities, each rooted in one of our Five Pillars of Belonging. Select one to see the testimonial, the facts and the bills.
Meaningful Federal Immigration ReformEveryone deserves to live without fear of forcible separation.
Ban 287(g) Agreements & Protect Sensitive LocationsEveryone deserves safety and protection.
Immigrant Rights & De-Escalation Training for Law EnforcementEveryone deserves quality community programs and resources.
Reinstate Driver’s Licenses for AllEveryone deserves the opportunity to fully participate in civic and economic life.
Eliminate Cruelty in Immigrant Detention FacilitiesEveryone deserves the dignity of due process and constitutional protections.
The Five Pillars of Belonging
Choose a pillar to read a testimonial, the key facts, and the questions to ask candidates.
Meaningful Federal Immigration Reform
Everyone deserves to live without fear of forcible separation.
Testimonial · In their words
“My husband, an asylum seeker from Venezuela, never came home from work one day. Despite following every requirement of his asylum case, ICE detained him at his workplace. We had just learned that we were expecting our third child. It has been nearly 14 months since he was taken from our family. Our baby boy is now eight months old, but his father has never held him. My older children break down in tears whenever they talk about their dad, asking when he is coming home. My husband missed the birth of our son. He has missed birthdays, milestones, and everyday moments that we, as a family, will never get back. Our children are growing up without their father—not because he committed a crime, but because our family was separated while we sought protection.”
Talking points · The facts
205,000
According to a study conducted by the nonpartisan institute Brookings, an estimated 205,000 children are affected by parental detention and deportation, and a majority of these children, 145,000, are U.S. citizens.
Providing reasonable pathways to citizenship allows families to stay together.
$14.5 trillion
A 2026 report by the Cato Institute found that in each year from 1994 to 2023, across all levels of government, immigrants paid more in taxes than they received in benefits. This resulted in a cumulative fiscal surplus of $14.5 trillion in real 2024 U.S. dollars, including savings on interest payments on the national debt.
Policy proposal · What to ask
Ask federal candidates
“Do you support a meaningful federal immigration reform, like that proposed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the American Immigration Council, that offers: pathways to citizenship for long-term residents; alternative compliance processes, in lieu of detention and removal; and humanitarian protections and due process to refugees and asylum seekers?”
This policy proposal is suitable for federal-level political candidates.
What it means · The details
Key message: Reasonable pathways to citizenship and humane alternatives to detention are necessary.
What meaningful reform would do
- Offer long-term residents a realistic path to legal status and citizenship, with clear eligibility standards and background checks
- Create community-based alternatives to detention for people with low-risk immigration cases
- Provide humane treatment and safe legal paths to seek protection
- Guarantee due process: notice of proceedings, access to judges and appeals, timely bond hearings, counsel and interpreters
What it would not do
- Eliminate immigration laws or border controls
- Guarantee citizenship to every immigrant automatically
- Remove the need to meet eligibility standards and comply with the law
In Lansing · Bills we’re advocating for
This is a federal priority, so there is no Michigan bill. We ask federal candidates and members of Congress to support meaningful immigration reform, and we ask state leaders to speak up for it.
Ban 287(g) Agreements & Protect Sensitive Locations
Everyone deserves safety and protection.
Testimonial · In their words
“In speaking with my local law enforcement, I realized that they were unaware of the negative consequences of 287(g) agreements, which are formal contracts between local police and federal immigration agencies. Once they knew, they said they had no interest in signing onto one. They understood that these agreements undermine community trust in police.”
“I am a schoolteacher. This past year, I had a student who needed medical attention. Due to the family’s immigration status and fear of possible ICE detention at the hospital, the appropriate medical care was not given until the child needed emergency surgery. The child missed the rest of the school year and suffered needlessly.”
Talking points · The facts
Per the U.S. Constitution, immigration enforcement is strictly a federal responsibility. According to Police Chief Magazine, research consistently shows that when local police act as immigration agents, undocumented immigrants are far less likely to report violent crimes, sexual assaults, and domestic abuse for fear of deportation. This undermines the safety of entire communities, effectively placing community-driven public safety goals on the back burner, all in exchange for federal funding.
A 2023 UCLA study found that nearly every type of immigration enforcement encounter was associated with delays in seeking healthcare among Latino and Asian immigrants.
A 2025 national survey published in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health found that most Americans believe immigration enforcement in hospitals, schools, and places of worship would deter immigrants from seeking needed medical care.
Policy proposal · What to ask
Ask state candidates
“Do you support legislation prohibiting local law enforcement agencies from entering into 287(g) agreements with ICE, as states such as New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Colorado have already done?”
“Do you support legislation, like MI Senate Bill 508, that would designate locations, such as places of worship, hospitals, and schools, as protected spaces, allowing federal immigration enforcement to enter only with a valid judicial warrant?”
These policy proposals are suitable for state-level political candidates.
What it means · The details
Key message: Immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility. Local participation can undermine trust in police and make communities less safe.
Communities are safer when residents can
- Report crimes without fear
- Seek emergency medical care
- Worship and attend religious services safely
- Trust local law enforcement
- Receive help regardless of immigration status
What protecting sensitive spaces would not do
- Make anyone immune from federal immigration law
- Prevent ICE from enforcing federal law outside protected locations
- Block enforcement when a valid judicial warrant or emergency exception applies
- Stop local police from responding to crimes, emergencies or threats to public safety
In Lansing · Bills we’re advocating for
Prohibiting 287(g) agreements
Bars Michigan state, county, city, village and township police agencies from entering into, modifying or renewing 287(g) immigration-enforcement agreements with federal authorities.
In committee · House Government Operations
Prohibiting 287(g) agreements (Senate)
The Senate counterpart to HB 4941: Michigan law enforcement agencies could not enter into, modify or renew 287(g) agreements.
In committee · Senate Government Operations
Protecting sensitive locations
Prohibits immigration enforcement at schools, hospitals, places of worship, courthouses and organizations serving vulnerable populations, with court-order and imminent-public-safety exceptions.
In committee · House Government Operations
Protecting sensitive locations (Senate)
Restricts immigration enforcement by federal officers at schools, hospitals, places of worship, courthouses and certain service organizations, with exceptions for court orders and imminent threats to public safety.
Ready for a Senate vote · Senate Committee of the Whole
Protecting personal information
Restricts state agencies and other covered entities from disclosing certain personal information to immigration authorities without a court-issued warrant.
In committee · Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety
Immigrant Rights & De-Escalation Training for Law Enforcement
Everyone deserves quality community programs and resources.
Testimonial · In their words
“In my culture, making extended eye contact, either while speaking or listening, is considered disrespectful and is usually avoided when speaking to an elder or an authority figure. My son was raised this way. If he were to be stopped by a police officer, he would avoid eye contact to show respect and compliance. I worry that a police officer could misunderstand this. With my son being Black and speaking limited English with an accent, I am scared that he could be turned over to ICE for no reason. This situation makes me and my family feel at risk and unwelcome in our new home.”
Talking points · The facts
Local law enforcement often lack the training and resources needed to effectively navigate the challenges created by increased federal immigration enforcement. Misunderstandings about cultural norms or uncertainty about legal responsibilities can compromise public safety and create unnecessary risks for both residents and officers. Surveys published by Police Chief Magazine show that many law enforcement officials believe current federal immigration enforcement practices damage relationships with immigrant communities.
438,800 jobs
State agencies, like the Office of Global Michigan, play a key role in strengthening local economies by supporting New American integration. Research from the Center for American Progress estimates that full immigrant integration could create more than 438,800 new jobs through increased consumer spending, entrepreneurship, and investment. When these efforts are underfunded, communities miss opportunities to grow their workforce, attract investment, and realize the full economic and social benefits immigrants bring to Michigan.
Policy proposal · What to ask
Ask state candidates
“Do you support funding the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) to train state and local law enforcement on immigrant rights, cross-cultural communication, and de-escalation strategies, and provide general guidance on matters concerning interactions between local police and federal immigration enforcement?”
“Do you protect the Office of Global Michigan’s funding and support their mission to make Michigan a state that is welcoming and inclusive to newcomers?”
These policy proposals are suitable for state-level political candidates.
What it means · The details
Key message: Just and effective public programs help everyone participate and thrive.
Welcoming communities invest in
- Cross-cultural communication and language access
- Anti-discriminatory training and New American integration
- Community-based support and economic opportunity
- State-funded MCOLES training for police on immigrant rights, de-escalation and federal enforcement
What officer training would cover
- Constitutional protections during traffic stops, questioning, searches and detention
- Limits on local police involvement in federal civil immigration enforcement
- The difference between a judicial warrant and an administrative immigration document
- Trauma-informed responses and appropriate use of interpreters
In Lansing · Bills we’re advocating for
Constitutional policing
Prohibits stops, detentions or arrests based solely on personal characteristics, including assumptions about immigration status, and reaffirms that officers may not forcibly enter homes without a judicial warrant.
In committee · House Government Operations
Law-enforcement training standards
Requires training in de-escalation, implicit bias, procedural justice, crisis intervention and behavioral health, with standards set through MCOLES for new and existing officers.
Referred to Committee of the Whole · since Sept. 9, 2025
Officer licensing and accountability
Strengthens law-enforcement officer licensing and accountability requirements, including background checks for police candidates.
Tie-barred with SB 334
Reinstate Driver’s Licenses for All
Everyone deserves the opportunity to fully participate in civic and economic life.
Testimonial · In their words
“For me and for many immigrants in Michigan, leading full civic and economic lives means having the opportunity to obtain a driver’s license. The importance of this license is evident in my own family. Without a driver’s license, our daily lives become very difficult. Everyday tasks like going to the grocery store, taking my children to school, or to the doctor when they’re sick, and visiting relatives who live far away become sources of stress and anxiety. This is because driving without a license puts us at risk of being pulled over by law enforcement, turned over to ICE, and ultimately separated from our families.”
Talking points · The facts
55,000 applicants
Until 2008, all Michigan residents had the ability to obtain a driver’s license after passing a driver’s test and meeting other requirements.
If legislation to restore driver’s licenses to all residents were to become law, the Michigan League for Public Policy estimates that over the course of three years, 55,000 Michiganders would apply for a driver’s license, leading to 20,000 vehicle purchases.
~$100 million
The Michigan League for Public Policy estimates that reinstating driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants would boost state revenue by $13.5 million and contribute $12 million in recurring revenue, $9 million of which would be from sales and gas taxes related to vehicle ownership. Over the course of 10 years, this policy would generate nearly $100 million for the state of Michigan.
Policy proposal · What to ask
Ask state candidates
“Do you support legislation, similar to that of Washington D.C. and 19 other states, to restore driver’s licenses to all age-eligible Michigan residents?”
This policy proposal is suitable for state-level political candidates.
What it means · The details
Key message: Our state’s safety and economy will benefit from the restoration of driver’s licenses for all.
What restoring licenses would do
- Restore standard Michigan licenses for all age-eligible residents, as before the 2008 “legal presence” rule
- Keep the same identity, residency, testing and safety standards for everyone
- Let all residents get insurance and register vehicles
- Improve access to work, school, health care and essential services, and make roads safer
What it would not do
- Grant immigration status or citizenship
- Create voting eligibility
- Automatically provide a REAL ID
- Eliminate driving tests or safety requirements
In Lansing · Bills we’re advocating for
Driver’s licenses for all
Removes citizenship and legal-presence requirements for a Michigan driver’s license and restricts the use of certain Secretary of State records for immigration enforcement. Applicants would still meet all licensing and safety requirements.
Defeated · House floor vote 39–64, March 2025
With no active bill, we will advocate for the introduction of new legislation to restore driver’s licenses for all age-eligible residents.
Eliminate Cruelty in Immigrant Detention Facilities
Everyone deserves the dignity of due process and constitutional protections.
Testimonial · In their words
“After falsely accusing me of missing my immigration hearing, and refusing to accept the proof proving otherwise, ICE detained me at the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin for nearly two months. There, medical care depended on the clock, not the urgency of your condition. If you became sick after a certain hour, guards told you to wait until morning.”
“One night, a friend of mine suffered severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, numbness in his limbs, and uncontrollable vomiting. I immediately alerted a guard, but it took more than 40 agonizing minutes for a nurse to respond. Even then, my friend was never physically examined. As we waited, we had no idea whether he was having a medical emergency that could turn fatal.”
Talking points · The facts
90%
Custody data released by ICE in December 2025 shows that the vast majority, 90% of the daily average population at North Lake Processing Center, have not been charged with a crime.
In January 2026, a congressional investigative report identified over 1,000 credible reports of human rights abuses in federal detention centers, including reports of physical and sexual abuse, medical neglect, and denial of food or water.
87 emergency calls
The January 2026 congressional investigation revealed that the North Lake Processing Center in Michigan placed 87 calls to emergency medical services over 6 months.
In April 2026, a significant portion of North Lake’s roughly 1,400 detained immigrants launched a hunger strike to protest medical neglect, subprime conditions, and legal stonewalling.
Policy proposal · What to ask
Ask federal & state candidates
Federal candidates: “Do you support a federal investigation into the health and safety conditions of all Michigan immigrant detention centers, including the North Lake Processing Center, call for an indefinite moratorium on new immigrant detention facilities, and pursue humane, community-based alternatives instead?”
State candidates: “Do you support a call for an inspection by the MI Dept. of Health to investigate the health and safety conditions at all privately run or county-run immigrant detention centers in Michigan, and oppose the expansion of new detention facilities in the State?”
What it means · The details
Key message: Due process is a constitutional right for all residing in our country, regardless of their immigration status.
What state oversight would do
- Direct MDHHS to regularly inspect all private and county-run facilities that hold people for federal immigration purposes
- Publish inspection findings and corrective-action plans, and accept confidential complaints
- Examine medical care, food, sanitation, use of solitary confinement, and access to counsel, interpreters and religious services
- Penalize repeated or serious violations and protect whistleblowers
What we oppose
- Building, expanding or converting Michigan facilities for immigrant detention
- New detention contracts without public notice, hearings and legislative review
- State or local tax dollars, land or personnel subsidizing new federal detention capacity
In Lansing · Bills we’re advocating for
No state property for ICE detention
Prohibits selling or transferring state-owned property to ICE for immigration detention, and lets the state reclaim property if the restriction is violated.
Introduced · in committee · House Government Operations, Jan. 29, 2026
Strangers No Longer understands that there must be federal policy changes to successfully address the ongoing immigration crisis in the U.S. These changes must begin by exposing the racial and socioeconomic discrimination that has fueled the current immigration system and end by embracing a new system that centers compassion and respect for the intrinsic and inviolable human dignity of all people.
The bills we’re advocating for
On December 3, Strangers No Longer members will carry this platform to the Michigan Capitol. These are the state bills connected to our Five Pillars of Belonging.
Bill status as shared in our October 2026 Policy Platform training. Click a bill number for the latest on the Michigan Legislature website.
How our meetings in Lansing will work
- Our asks will depend on whom we meet with and whether they will return for the next legislative session in January.
- Where there is no current bill, we will advocate for the introduction of new legislation.
- Meeting with legislators is ideal, but some may meet with staff instead. This is still valuable.
- We will prioritize constituents meeting with their own elected officials.
- Advocates and Policy Captains will receive contact sheets, schedules and scripts.
Ratified June 29, 2026 · Detroit
This platform was unanimously ratified by Strangers No Longer members on Monday, June 29, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan. We extend our gratitude to all members and allies present at ratification. Thank you.
Circles of Support present (29)
- Adrian Dominican Sisters
- Ann Arbor Community Reformed Church
- Birmingham Unitarian Church
- Christ our Light Church, Troy
- Christ the Good Shepherd, Lincoln Park
- Christ the King, Detroit
- Christ the Redeemer Catholic Community, Lake Orion
- Coalition for Compassion, Metro-Detroit
- Gesu Catholic Parish, Detroit
- Grosse Pointe Unitarian, Grosse Pointe
- Holy Trinity Catholic Community, Port Huron
- Holy Trinity Parish, Detroit
- Hombres St. Andre Bessette, Ecorse
- Mujeres St. Andre Bessette, Ecorse
- Mujeres, St. Mary’s Student Parish, Ann Arbor
- Nativity / St. Charles Borromeo, Detroit
- Nativity Episcopal Church, Bloomfield Hills
- Our Lady of the Woods, Woodhaven
- Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Oak Park/Ferndale
- Resurrection Catholic Parish, Canton
- Ss. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, Detroit
- St. Clement Church, Romeo
- St. Francis of Assisi, Ann Arbor
- St. Mark the Evangelist, Goodrich
- St. Mary Student Parish, Ann Arbor
- St. Michael Catholic Community, Sterling Heights
- St. Peter Episcopal, Detroit
- St. Regis Catholic Church, Bloomfield Hills
- Youth in Action for Immigration (Statewide)
Community allies present (12)
- Amnesty International – Detroit Chapter
- Faith and Race Project – Livingston County
- Livingston Diversity Council
- Weather Watchers (Watching for ICE)
- Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
- Rising Voices
- Pax Christi Michigan
- IHM Sisters
- Sisters of Mercy
- Holy Faith – Voices of Justice
- Detroit Friends Meeting
- Macomb Embracing Liberation Together (MELT)
Want to add your organization’s name? Contact Odalis Perales at perales.o@strangersnolonger.org or Bill O’Brien at (313) 549-0421.
Stay informed. Take action.
Interfaith Pilgrimage · December 3, 2026
Bring this platform to the Capitol. Join Strangers No Longer members, parishes and allies from across Michigan in Lansing to raise our voices for a welcoming Michigan. We’re on our way to 500 — register now and pass it on to a friend, family member or fellow church member.
Bringing your church, parish, school or team? Find flyers, bulletin inserts and tips to mobilize your group on the Resources for Leaders page.
Download the Platform
Take the platform with you. Share it with your parish, your Circle of Support, and your elected officials.
The Policy Platform booklet
The complete 2026 Policy Platform: the preamble, all Five Pillars of Belonging with testimonials and talking points, and the full list of signatories. Available in English and Spanish.
The two-page summary
A quick overview of the platform and its signatories, ready to print and hand out at meetings, events and parish gatherings. Available in English and Spanish.
Questions?
Contact Odalis Perales at perales.o@strangersnolonger.org
Strangers No Longer (SNL) is a statewide network of Circles of Support that provides education, direct support, and advocacy to promote humane immigration policies.
