Bill to Penalize Sanctuary Cities in Senate Committee

A bill to prohibit sanctuary cities in Michigan is under consideration at the state Capitol.

Michigan has two sanctuary cities, Detroit and Ann Arbor.

The designation discourages local police from asking about immigration status, which means that information can’t be shared with the federal government.

State Senator Mike Kowall is sponsoring a bill to ban such policies.

His legislation would hold back state funding from local governments that have sanctuary city policies.

But state Representative Harvey Santana, who represents Detroit, opposes the bill saying it effectively legitimizes racial profiling.

He says it also strips cities of local control.

The bill is in a Senate committee.