Lansing Update: Catholic Advocacy for Immigrants at the Capitol
Posted November 15, 2024
Grassroots Advocates Visit Capitol in Support of Driver’s License Access for Immigrants
Nearly 200 grassroots activists with the Catholic-affiliated group Strangers No Longer visited the state Capitol this week in support of legislation to allow undocumented immigrants to access driver’s licenses or identification cards in Michigan.
The group’s advocacy day is part of a final push to persuade lawmakers to pass this most recent version of the legislation that has sat idle in committee since its introduction in 2023. The next few weeks mark the last opportunity for this current slate of lawmakers to approve pending legislation before a new session begins in 2025.
Strangers No Longer is a network of individuals based out of the metro Detroit area who provide education, direct support, and advocacy to promote humane immigration policies. The group takes its name from a pastoral letter on immigration authored by the U.S. bishops.
As part of the Strangers No Longer advocacy day, groups of advocates visited the offices of every House and Senate member, as well as the Governor’s office, to deliver materials to staff.
The advocates who attended the Capitol visit—which included religious sisters, high school students, and lay faithful—visited House session and were recognized from the gallery overlooking the floor by members during the proceedings.
Two lawmakers who support the legislation and are working to get it passed addressed the group and encouraged them in their advocacy efforts: Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) and Rep. Rachel Hood (D-Grand Rapids).
This week’s advocacy event served to remind lawmakers of the grassroots interest in the issue, as well as to highlight the challenges of daily life in Michigan without access to driver’s licenses. A similar Strangers No Longer advocacy day took place in 2023, which included scheduled visits with nearly 70 lawmakers.
For years, Strangers No Longer and other immigrant rights groups, as well as Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC), have been advocating to restore access to driver’s licenses for Michigan residents who have not yet been granted citizenship.
Currently, undocumented immigrants cannot access a driver’s license or state identification, which they had been able to before state policy changed in 2008.
This prevents people living and working in Michigan to safely and legally drive themselves to work and their children to school and doctor’s appointments, for example. The lack of identification has also created difficulties for some individuals in obtaining prescription medication.
Restoring access to driver’s licenses for undocumented individuals is not about encouraging illegal immigration or open borders, nor does this policy give the undocumented the right to vote.
Rather, MCC supports this policy in keeping with its advocacy principle to welcome and support immigrants and refugees, which calls for recognizing their dignity as human beings, regardless of their personal circumstances, background, or legal status.
Support of this policy stems from the fact that access to driver’s licenses is crucial to daily life for all types of Michiganders. Lawmakers this session have already passed bills to improve access to driver’s licenses for other groups of people, which MCC has also supported.
MCC reported last week the driver’s license bills are among its top priorities for the upcoming lame duck legislative session. Bills were introduced in early 2023 in both chambers and continue to await a hearing.
Also this week, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released a “statement of pastoral concern” that pledged that the bishops would be standing in “firm solidarity” with immigrants who live and work in our country.
“Together, we must speak out on behalf of the ‘huddled masses yearning to breathe free’ and ask our government to provide fair and humane treatment for our beloved immigrant brothers and sisters,” the bishops said in the statement.
The bishops are advocating that the U.S. immigration system:
- Offer fair and generous pathways to full citizenship for immigrants living and working for many years within our borders.
- Provide permanent relief for childhood arrivals, help families stay together, and welcomes refugees.
- Develop an effective asylum system for those fleeing persecution and an immigration system that keeps our borders safe and secure, with enforcement policies that focus on those who present risks and dangers to society, particularly efforts to reduce gang activity, stem the flow of drugs, and end human trafficking.
Senate Unanimously Supports Bill to Protect Foster Children Benefits
Every state senator this week voted for an MCC-backed bill to ensure federal benefits for foster children remain with them and are not seized by the state, which has been the practice.
Senate Bill 872 cleared the chamber on a 38-0 vote. It would end the state seizure of roughly $3 million annually in foster children benefits that it uses to pay for the cost of caring for foster children. The practice was said to have begun a few decades ago under budget constraints.
Under SB 872, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), the state would instead keep benefits tied to foster children—such as certain federal benefits like Social Security or Supplemental Security Income—in accounts that foster children could access after exiting state supervision, benefits that could help foster children move toward more stable economic footing.
MCC frequently supports legislation such as this to improve the outcomes of children in foster care, who are among the most vulnerable members of society. The bill was sent to the House Families, Children and Seniors Committee and awaits further consideration.
House Approves Bills to Promote Safe Gun Storage Law Among Parents
Parents of all school-bound children—including nonpublic schools—would receive information about how to safely store firearms at home, under legislation the House approved this week.
MCC supports the legislation, especially after the Catholic Conference called for lawmakers to educate the public about the safe gun storage law when the Legislature first approved the law in 2023.
Under House Bills 5450 and 5451, the state would be required to develop an informational notice regarding the law and disseminate it to schools. Schools would be required to distribute it to the parents or legal guardians of every enrolled student and post a link on their websites.
Nonpublic schools would also receive the information from the state and be required to send the notice home to parents. MCC advocated to include nonpublic school parents in the legislation, as the original version of the bill called for the state to make information available only upon request from nonpublic schools.
Michigan law requires gun owners to safely lock up their guns to protect children or unauthorized people from accessing them, and prescribes criminal penalties for the gun owner if a child accesses the gun and uses it to cause harm.
MCC believes raising awareness about the safe storage requirement—such as through the notice requirement in this House legislation—will prevent tragic and unnecessary loss of life.
The legislation is now headed to the Senate for further consideration.
Better Protections and Support for Human Trafficking Victims Clears House Panel
Legislation to better protect victims of human trafficking from unjust prosecution received MCC support as it advanced from a House committee this week.
The legislation, which consists of House Bills 5836 through 5842, would allow Michigan courts to recognize that individuals who commit crimes as a result of being trafficked are not criminals, but rather victims of crime.
The package does this through enhancing the affirmative defense that a person committed an offense as a direct result of being a victim of human trafficking. It also expands the law that allows for the setting aside or expunction of convictions related to being trafficked as one way to help restore those who have been victimized and acknowledge the crime committed against them.
MCC has worked for many years to advance policy to combat human trafficking, which is a modern-day slavery, a scourge on society, and a grave violation of human dignity.
The bipartisan package cleared the House Judiciary Committee this week and is now on the House floor for further consideration.
Salute Those Who Support Women During Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week
The U.S. bishops this week marked Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week by recognizing the nation’s pregnancy resource centers and the services and support they provide vulnerable mothers in need.
“As Advent approaches, we remember the Blessed Virgin Mary who in her hour of need found no room at the inn,” the USCCB said in reflecting on Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week, which is November 11-15. “Our country’s network of pregnancy care centers and maternity homes work to ensure that no woman is left alone in her own hour of need.”
The bishops noted that pregnancy resource centers provide numerous resources for mothers and their children, including baby clothes and diapers, childcare and career services, referrals to homes where pregnant and parenting moms can live for free, and many other forms of housing, food, and financial assistance.
Many centers also provide some medical services, including ultrasounds, prenatal and postnatal care, and referrals to hospitals for free or low-cost childbirth.
For the Church, whether it’s a parish or a local Catholic Charities agency, or the U.S. bishops’ nationwide Walking With Moms in Need initiative, caring for mothers in need from pregnancy to birth and beyond is a consistent priority in the Church’s commitment to build a society that supports and welcomes all lives.
To learn more about how the Church in Michigan walks with mothers in need, you are invited to revisit MCC’s Focus from March 2022 by clicking or tapping here to view the digital version.
If you wish to share this resource with your parish or community, print copies of this Focus or other past issues of Focus are always available to order for free by contacting the MCC office.
Deer Hunters, You Have a Saint Praying for You
November 15 each year marks opening day for firearm deer season in Michigan, and regardless of what day of the week it falls on, it’s an occasion that many hunters faithfully mark by heading up north or into the nearest deer blind.
As with nearly every aspect of life, the Catholic Church has recognized the heroic virtues of a certain person to whom Catholics may ask for intercession: St. Hubert is traditionally venerated as the patron of hunters.
As a youth Hubert lived a worldly life among a court in France, where he spent significant time hunting. According to tradition, St. Hubert was hunting on Good Friday and had his sights set on a large stag when he saw what looked like a crucifix within the animal’s antlers.
The future saint then heard a voice calling him to repentance. He did just that, and St. Hubert later became a priest and bishop.
For all those hunters out in the woods, St. Hubert is praying for you—perhaps not to bring home a buck, but at the very least, for your safety and sanctification.
The Legislature traditionally breaks for two weeks around firearm deer hunting season as well as Thanksgiving. Session resumes the week of December 2. Lansing Update will resume that week, unless other news surfaces before then.