The state could seek to criminalize human trafficking, helping illegal immigrants

(The Center Square) – Given exposed borders and natural harbors, Michigan Republicans want to change state law to make human trafficking illegal and criminalize harboring and transporting people who are or have entered the country illegally.

There are no state-level criminal penalties for human trafficking.

State Reps. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, and Gina Johnsen, R-Lake Odessa, recently introduced legislation that would criminalize bringing unauthorized persons into Michigan. Housing and transporting people living in or entering the country illegally would also become a state crime.

“Human trafficking in Michigan poses significant dangers because our proximity to international borders and Great Lakes ports increases the risk that victims will be abandoned in remote, dangerous areas and exposed to extreme weather conditions. ” Johnsen said. “Trafficked people are frequently victims of serious abuse, including physical violence, sexual assault and forced labor. This is a real issue that hurts real people. Violators must be brought to justice.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement defines human trafficking as transportation-based, while human trafficking is exploitation-based. There are state sanctions in the event of trafficking.

“Criminalizing human trafficking at the state level will ensure that local law enforcement is authorized and equipped to punish predators who illegally transport people into our state,” Cavitt said. “These new laws will ensure that even as federal leaders continue to embrace increasingly radical far-left policies, Michigan will be determined to punish anyone who chooses to exploit vulnerable people for personal gain. »

The number of migrants apprehended while crossing the northern border more than doubled in 2023, from 3,578 arrested in 2022 to 12,200 in 2023, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.

While about 70 percent of illegal Canadian border crossings take place in the 295-mile Swanton sector, which includes New York, New Hampshire and Vermont, Michigan still sees a significant amount of illegal immigration.

“Some smugglers even use social media to promote their services,” Johnsen said. “But their clients have no recourse when they are injured, abandoned in the smuggling process or, worse, abused, kidnapped or forced to work by predators posing as smugglers who never had the intention to help them access the United States. »

According to a report from The Center Square, reduced security at the northern border may lead to several suspected terrorists entering the United States each year. In 2023, a record 147,666 single adults were encountered at the border, including 10,592 in Michigan.

Michigan contains more than 700 miles of northern border, making Alaska and Texas the only states with a greater share of border mileage.

“Our Northeast Michigan community is right on the border with Canada,” Cavitt said. “When we talk about dangerous criminals paying to cross the Great Lakes to Michigan, they are often crossing directly into our backyard. This crisis endangers our friends and neighbors.