FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2025
Contact:
Laura Millard Ross
lauramr@mlpp.org
517-281-1084
Michigan organizations sound alarm over ICE’s unchecked power
Violent, harmful actions of federal agency are an affront to human rights
LANSING — Four prominent statewide organizations that focus on social justice are urging Congress to address overreach from the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan, the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC), MI Poder and the Michigan League for Public Policy condemn the ongoing violent actions of ICE and the threat the agency poses to communities around the nation and here in Michigan.
“The extremist actions of ICE must stop,” said Monique Stanton, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy. “Yesterday’s tragic killing in Minneapolis is the latest in a series of brutal acts from the federal agency, and it must stop. ICE agents have caused the shooting deaths of at least four people since 2025, and 32 people died while in ICE custody last year. This agency uses its unchecked power to create fear, chaos and violence in communities around the nation, including here in Michigan.”
“We must be relentless in our solidarity in the face of government-sanctioned violence against our friends, family members and neighbors who are immigrants,” said Loren Khogali, Executive Director of ACLU of Michigan. “It will require all of us to exercise our constitutional right to express our condemnation of this administration’s lawlessness and to walk alongside those most vulnerable to being targeted. As you join your fellow Michiganders in speaking out and engaging in lawful protest, please know your rights.”
“The clients we talk to are parents, workers, and neighbors who call Michigan home. Their contributions are crucial to our state. But right now they’re afraid to go to work, run to the store, or take their kids to school because of an administration that would rather spread fear than build a brighter future for our nation. No one in this country should fear leaving their home,” said Susan Reed, Director of the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.
“According to reporting from The Detroit News, over 4,600 people in Michigan were detained by ICE in the past year, many being sent to harsh, crowded detention centers in Michigan, Texas, and Louisiana, and over half being deported, often returning to countries they had fled due to violence or unstable conditions,” said Stanton. “The majority had no criminal record. Only 3% of detainees were released. This is not a sound immigration process, it’s a government-created crisis that is tearing families and communities apart.”
“The immediate crisis is the unchecked brutality of ICE. But the harm of a mass deportation campaign does not stop with those directly targeted—it ripples through entire communities. Fear is driving workers out of essential jobs in agriculture, manufacturing and health care. Trust between communities and public institutions is being broken. There’s a drain on local budgets and disruption to important public services. Most alarming, these enforcement tactics are normalizing violations of due process and undermining the public accountability that safeguards basic rights and a functioning democracy. Every day this continues, the damage deepens, and the longer it will take to repair,” said Cindy Gamboa of MI Poder.
###
The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on opportunity for all. Its mission is to advance economic security, racial equity, health and well-being for all people in Michigan through policy change. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
MI Poder amplifies the political power and leadership of Michigan’s Latinx communities through transformative leadership, grassroots democracy, and justice-driven policy change. Rooted in our collective strength, we are building a future where our Gente lead, belong and thrive.
Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC) is a statewide legal resource center for Michigan’s immigrant communities that works to build a thriving Michigan where immigrant communities experience equity and belonging. MIRC’s work is rooted in three pillars: direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community engagement and education. michiganimmigrant.org
ACLU of Michigan was established in 1959 to defend our civil liberties. The ACLU of Michigan’s mission remains realizing the promise of the Bill of Rights for all and expanding the reach of its guarantees to new areas through all the tools at our disposal: public education, advocacy, organizing, and litigation.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
