Livingston Today

State Senator Jim Runestad of Michigan has put forward new legislative measures aimed at reinforcing the state's adherence to federal immigration laws. In a statement, Runestad expressed concerns over illegal immigration, stating that it "robs opportunities for work from unemployed and underemployed citizens and legal residents" and imposes significant financial burdens on the state.

The proposed Senate Bill 444 mandates that both public and private employers use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the citizenship status of job applicants. The E-Verify system, created under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, is managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to verify employment eligibility.

Additionally, Senate Bill 445 seeks to obligate the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) to monitor and report on inmates' citizenship status, as current regulations do not require such reporting. Runestad highlighted this gap by stating, “We have no idea how many illegal immigrants are being housed by MDOC as opposed to being turned over to the federal government for proper adjudication and deportation.”

Both bills have been submitted to the Senate Committee on Government Operations for consideration.