Michigan House adopts resolution penalizing 'sanctuary' policies; 56-15 vote

Lansing — The Michigan House of Representatives adopted House Resolution 19 on Feb. 11, approving a nonbinding measure that would withhold certain state-funded discretionary projects from municipalities that adopt sanctuary-style policies, the chamber announced after a roll-call vote of 56 ayes and 15 nays.

Supporters and opponents sparred on the House floor over consequences for public safety, local budgeting and civil liberties. Opponents said the resolution would damage trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement and could lead to wrongful detentions; backers described it as a check on localities that, they said, refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

The resolution was introduced by Speaker Hall and recommended by the Government Operations Committee. After several failed amendments, Representative Wegela rose in opposition, calling the measure “simply a power grab” and saying it would punish municipalities that adopt local protections for immigrants. “Dehumanizing an entire group of people is always wrong and dangerous,” Wegela said on the House floor.

Representative Wooden recounted an instance she said showed the risks of immigration enforcement without local safeguards. Wooden described a Kent County case in which a Marine Corps veteran was handed over to federal immigration authorities despite having a passport and later being confirmed a U.S. citizen; the incident, she said, prompted the Kent County sheriff’s office to require a judicial warrant for ICE detainer holds. Wooden said the resolution could deprive counties with such safeguards of state funding for local projects that benefit the region, citing past investments including the Grand River Greenway and improvements to the John Ball Zoo.

Representative Carter also opposed the resolution, calling it “reckless” and arguing it would undermine public safety by reducing trust between immigrants and police. “People are less likely to make calls to the police department if they don't have that trust,” Carter said.

Speaker Hall defended the resolution, saying municipalities should not rely on discretionary state “pork projects” to fund core services and that the measure targets those extra projects, not constitutional revenue sharing. “If these local governments are conditioning their public safety and all these things on pork projects from politicians, that’s probably a bad budgeting strategy for them,” Hall said. He told colleagues many municipalities had already signaled willingness to certify that they are not sanctuary jurisdictions.

Majority Floor Leader Postumas requested a recorded roll-call vote; the clerk later reported 56 ayes and 15 nays and announced the resolution adopted. The record shows the House moved on to other business after the vote. The transcript does not show detailed roll-call vote-by-name in the segments provided.

Votes at a glance

- House Resolution 19 (introduced by Speaker Hall): Adopted, recorded vote 56–15. Motion: adoption of substitute and final adoption of HR 19; outcome: adopted/approved. Notes: Roll-call recorded; several amendments were offered and not adopted.

- House Resolution 20 (introduced by Representative Martin): Designates February 2025 as Career and Technical Education Month. Introduced and read; final disposition not recorded in the provided transcript segments (no recorded vote shown).

- House Resolution 21 (introduced by Representative Neeley): Declares Feb. 11, 2025, as White Shirt Day. Adopted by voice vote; transcript records the chair saying, “The resolution is adopted.”

- House Joint Resolution A (introduced by Representative Bolen): Proposed constitutional amendment amending section 26 of Article 4. Advanced to third reading; transcript records it being moved to third reading, with no final chamber action in the provided segments.

The House adjourned its session and the clerk said there would be no further voting that day; the chamber stood adjourned until Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., according to the transcript.

Representative quotes in this article are taken from the chamber debate in the provided transcript excerpts. All attributions to members come from names or titles recorded in that transcript.