Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, is taking heat from Republicans over a program quietly directing state funds to illegal immigrants to help with their rent expenses.
“Governor Whitmer created this office and some of the money comes from Federal dollars and the rest from State funds. The Democrats ran this budget through after only given a few hours to review it. It’s hundreds of pages and we’re now still learning about some of these scary programs which all the Republicans voted against,” Michigan House Republican Leader Matt Hall told The Epoch Times.
Mr. Hall said he’s concerned the stipend could lead to having more illegal immigrants in the state.
“If you’re offering them housing subsidies, you would be potentially encouraging more, in particular these asylum seekers, 97% of which are people who have been caught here illegally and filed for asylum, making them eligible.”
Some Michiganders have heightened concerns about the illegal immigrants in the state following the murder last month of 25-year-old Ruby Garcia in Grand Rapids. She was allegedly shot by an illegal immigrant, Brandon Ortiz-Vite, who was deported in 2020 but re-entered the country unlawfully without any interaction with immigration officials.
Grand Rapids is located in Kent County, which is a designated sanctuary county. As such, it doesn’t have to fully comply with federal immigration enforcement efforts and protects illegal immigrants from deportation or prosecution.
Some Kent County officials are now trying to determine why the designation occurred. The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), based in Washington and described as a “nonpartisan, pro-immigrant” organization, named Kent County a sanctuary county in 2019.
Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young and County Administrator Al Vanderberg wrote to the CIS asking that they be removed from their list of sanctuary counties, saying they consistently work and collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “on all detainers or notice of intent requests to ensure public safety, due process, and the rule of law for all.”
“I introduced legislation to ban sanctuary counties in Michigan nine months ago, and I’m still waiting to hear from the Democrats about a hearing,” Mr. Hall said. “This is the second murder that’s occurred since I introduced it.”
Despite the opposition from state Republicans and negative news about the Garcia murder, OGM director and the state’s chief equity and inclusion officer, Poppy Sias-Hernandez, touted the rent program as one that will help diversify the state’s population.
“The Newcomer Rental Subsidy program will increase access to better and more affordable housing opportunities while supporting a more rapid social integration for refugees and other newcomer populations in Michigan,” she said in a written statement. “Global Michigan is committed to providing support that builds welcoming, inclusive communities for those who choose our state as their new home.”
As part of the rental program, an illegal immigrant or their household can receive payments for 12 months, with amounts based on the number of people in the home. Single individuals or households of two can receive up to $300 a month, households of three to five up to $400, and households with six or more up to $500.
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Susan Corbin praised the program in a statement given to El Central Hispanic News. “We are thrilled to couple funding from MSHDA together with our Office of Global Michigan’s efforts to support one common goal – making Michigan a place where all people, businesses and communities have the economic means and personal freedoms to reach their full potential.”
Mr. Hall and state Republican Rep. Joe Aragona, the vice chair of the legislative Housing Subcommittee, have penned a letter to Ms. Sias-Hernandez, asking for more information on the NRS program and who is receiving state funds.
“We are trying to get some answers from Poppy, but unfortunately, her department is running a bit slow,” Mr. Aragona told The Epoch Times. “Our big question is, ‘Why are people looking to waste taxpayers’ dollars right now? I just don’t know.”
Mr. Aragona lamented the speed at which the state budget passed along party lines and said most legislators were caught off guard by programs that emerged, such as the NRS.
“I believe that they’re drawing this money from MSHDA and from housing and trying to give it to a different department and use it. There was boilerplate attached (to the appropriation), but we had no idea a couple of months later they were going to use it for this,” he said.
Administering the NRS program could also be potentially burdensome for rental property owners. Under the program, the OGM will issue payments to landlords who can choose to receive payments electronically or via written check in the mail. The payments will be made in 3-month installments, with the first issued after the application has been approved.
