Michigan Rep Introduces Bill to Block State Property from ICE Detention Facilities
A Michigan lawmaker is pushing a measure that would prohibit state property from being sold or repurposed for federal detention facilities, following the deaths of 32 people, including children, in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody last year.
State Representative Dylan Wegela introduced House Bill 5494, which aims to prevent ICE from expanding its detention operations in the state by prohibiting any state-sold property from being used as a detention center. The legislation also requires private contractors operating detention facilities on formerly state-owned land to forfeit the property back to the state if it is used for immigration detention.
Wegela stated that 2025 was one of the deadliest years on record in ICE detention, and 32 lives were lost due to lack of dignity or due process. He argued that the deaths sparked by the use of aggressive enforcement tactics have led him to introduce this bill as a rallying point for activists and organizers fighting against fascism.
Wegela also cited instances where immigration attorneys and advocates reported increasingly aggressive enforcement tactics in Michigan, including ICE arrests during routine traffic stops and marriage-based green card interviews. He maintained that these detention centers are not needed and said the bill is intended to make it clear that ICE is not welcome in Michigan.
A Michigan lawmaker is pushing a measure that would prohibit state property from being sold or repurposed for federal detention facilities, following the deaths of 32 people, including children, in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody last year.
State Representative Dylan Wegela introduced House Bill 5494, which aims to prevent ICE from expanding its detention operations in the state by prohibiting any state-sold property from being used as a detention center. The legislation also requires private contractors operating detention facilities on formerly state-owned land to forfeit the property back to the state if it is used for immigration detention.
Wegela stated that 2025 was one of the deadliest years on record in ICE detention, and 32 lives were lost due to lack of dignity or due process. He argued that the deaths sparked by the use of aggressive enforcement tactics have led him to introduce this bill as a rallying point for activists and organizers fighting against fascism.
Wegela also cited instances where immigration attorneys and advocates reported increasingly aggressive enforcement tactics in Michigan, including ICE arrests during routine traffic stops and marriage-based green card interviews. He maintained that these detention centers are not needed and said the bill is intended to make it clear that ICE is not welcome in Michigan.
so like i was reading this news about michigan rep introducing a bill to block state property from ice detention facilities... 
32 people died in ice custody last year including kids 
it's super tragic and needs to be stopped ASAP. the rep is trying to prevent any more lives lost by not letting ice expand its detention ops in the state. 
he also mentioned how aggressive enforcement tactics are on the rise which is just not right 
anyone can get arrested during routine traffic stops or marriage interviews 
yeah, let's make it clear that ice isn't welcome in michigan 
32 lives lost already this year? 
That's just too much! 
I'm so sad for the families of those who passed away, especially the kids 
. We gotta make a change, you know? 
ICE needs to stop using our state property as detention centers 
. And those aggressive tactics? 
Unacceptable! We need more love and kindness in this world 
, let's make Michigan a safe haven for everyone, regardless of immigration status 
.
I think this is a total overreach by Rep Wegela... I mean, what's next? Is he gonna try to block federal prisons from expanding too? It's like, we gotta separate immigration policy from law enforcement. What about the safety of our citizens who are being stopped for traffic offenses or attending marriage interviews just because they're undocumented? 
so theres this rep from michigan named dylan wegela & hes like super passionate about blockin state prop 4 ice detention facilities lol idk if ur aware but last yr was WILD 
so hes introd this bill HB5494 which basically means no more state property 4 detention facilities 
anywys im all 4 Wegela & his effort 2 say "ice isnt welcome in mich" 
. Anyway, back to Michigan... did you know that Marquette is still one of the best places to visit in winter? The snow, the lakes... it's like a whole different world 
just heard about this new bill in MI and I gotta say its pretty cool! 
like who wants their state property being used for something as controversial as detention facilities? 
and I think this bill is a great step towards preventing such tragedies from happening again. I'm all for giving ICE a hard time and making it clear that they're not welcome in Michigan 
heartbreaking.
gotta think this is a great move by Rep Wegela 
PEOPLE ARE GETTING TOO CARRIED AWAY WITH THE "SECURITY" ARGUMENT WHEN REALLY IT'S ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY. 32 LIVES LOST IN ICE DETENTION LAST YEAR IS TRAGIC AND WE NEED TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST THIS KIND OF AGGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT TACTICS. ALSO, I FEEL LIKE THE BILL IS JUST A SMALL STEP IN RIGHTING THESE WRONGS, BUT IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING!!!
32 people died in immigration custody last year and someone's finally doing something about it! It's interesting how some lawmakers are starting to take a stand against ICE and their aggressive tactics... they're saying that detention centers aren't needed and that ICE shouldn't be able to just come into Michigan and set up shop whenever they want 
. I mean, 32 people (including kids!) lost their lives in ICE custody last year... that's just heartbreaking 
. The fact that they introduced a bill to prevent state property from being sold for these detention centers is a step in the right direction, but what about the people who are already affected? They're the ones who need real change 