Michigan House GOP threatens to block budgets over ‘sanctuary’ city funding

• Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall proposes earmark ban for ‘sanctuary’ jurisdictions that don’t cooperate with federal immigration authorities
• Under the Republican plan, the House would refuse to vote on any spending bills with grants to those communities
• ‘We'll go further than this,’ Hall said, telling reporters the House will take additional steps to deter sanctuary policies

LANSING — A proposed rule backed by top leadership in Michigan’s Republican-led House would ban local governments from receiving earmarked funding in the state budget unless they pledge to cooperate with federal efforts to detain and deport unauthorized immigrants.

Under a resolution sponsored by House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, the House would refuse to hold votes on any budget bill that contains special grants for what he called “sanctuary” cities. 

Any local government that “will not hold illegal aliens for a reasonable time for (Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents) to come pick them up under a detainer” or that “require a court order to do that” will be ineligible for state “pork projects,” Hall told reporters Thursday afternoon. 

The new rule, which Hall said will soon be taken up in committee, comes as Republicans recently regained control of the state House, following two years of Democratic trifecta control over state government, and emerging efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to greatly increase the detention and deportation of unauthorized immigrants in the US.

The definition of “sanctuary” status has not been well-defined, and the level of cooperation with federal authorities can vary by each county, city or township. 

Related:

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Some Michigan governments that have been called sanctuary cities don’t agree with the label. East Lansing, where local law enforcement does not cooperate with federal immigration agents, may be the only vocally “sanctuary city” in the state. Detroit has proclaimed itself a “welcoming city” but Mayor Mike Duggan has said local officers will comply with immigration authorities.

Hall’s resolution would apply to local governments with “any rule, policy, or ordinance that would subvert immigration enforcement in any way or that refuses to comply with federal immigration enforcement measures.”

To qualify for a grant, local governments would have to submit information to the House affirming they will work with federal immigration authorities. 

While the Democratic-controlled Senate would not have to abide by the same rules, Hall’s resolution would prevent the House from holding votes on any spending bills with funding that violates the new rule, and he made clear it was not open to negotiation.

“If Democrats want to shut down the government for pork projects to sanctuary jurisdictions, I guess they can do that, but the public would not be behind them,” Hall said. 

House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri, D-Canton, called Hall's proposal "irresponsible and reckless," with his office labeling it a "xenophobic attempt to punish diverse communities."

Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, accused Hall of weaponizing state funding and alluded to recent turmoil over federal funding under Trump. 

“The state budget should be seen as a tool to build communities up,” Brinks said in a statement. “After these utterly chaotic past two weeks, it’s clear that using funding as a weapon serves no one.”

Hall’s resolution comes amid a broader effort to rein in budget earmarks, or so-called “pork barrel” spending, a process lawmakers have used to add billions of dollars for pet projects without opportunity for public vetting or debate. 

He noted past earmarks to fund All of the Above Hip Hop Academy in Lansing, a "zen zone" for Novi teachers and splash pads in cities like Ann Arbor.

"If they want us to pay for their splash pads, then they can comply with federal law enforcement and enforce our immigration laws," Hall said.

Hall said the policy also aims to deter municipalities from adopting sanctuary policies. He noted recent debate in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo Township, a small portion of which he represents, over whether to adopt sanctuary policies.

"I want to send a clear message to you, if you're going to be a sanctuary township, it's going to put your state funding at risk," Hall said.  

“We'll go further than this,” Hall added, telling reporters that House Republicans will take other steps to try to deter sanctuary policies, suggesting they could attempt to "dock" statutory revenue sharing payments or disqualify municipalities from a "public safety trust fund" the GOP wants to create. 

He later clarified he would not try to block revenue sharing to local governments that’s mandated in the Michigan Constitution.