Most of us have seen the heartbreaking images of the humanitarian crisis at our border. Perhaps you’ve also heard their voices. The cries of terrified children pleading to be reunited with loved ones. Yes, this is the harrowing reality in our country, and we cannot turn a blind eye to the issue. Not this time.
The crackdown on immigration enforcement is taking a toll on households, entire communities, and especially on the health of children. Children separated from their parents at the border are being exposed to trauma and toxic stress. As the American Academy of Pediatrics describes it, “exposing children to traumatic events and prolonged stress such as separation from a parent disrupts a child’s healthy development and can lead to short- and long-term negative effects on physical, mental and behavioral health.” This is in addition to the trauma children have often times experienced in their native country and on their journey to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Vikki (right) and her older sister (left) hugging at the ages of 4 and 6.
The crisis of family separation at the border has reached Michigan too. It’s been reported that some of the children and infants who have been separated from their parents have been arriving to Michigan and are now hundreds of miles away from their loved ones. Across the state, hundreds of families have been separated as a result of mass raids at places of work and in neighborhoods. This is inhumane, and it is unacceptable. At the League, we fight tirelessly for the rights of those most vulnerable in our communities including those of the most innocent ones: children and babies who cannot advocate for themselves.
Just a couple of weeks ago, over one hundred immigrant advocates gathered at a press conference in Lansing to speak out against the cruelty of family separation at the border. Organizers from Action of Greater Lansing, discussed the impact of mass deportations on local communities. Samad, a DACA recipient and Kalamazoo community member, shared the heartbreaking story of his family’s hardships living in the shadows as undocumented immigrants. His sister, Lareb, who was also enrolled in the DACA program, passed away in 2016. His mother, Saheeda, received an order of removal this year, and has been living in sanctuary at a Kalamazoo church. Samad’s father was deported to Pakistan years ago. Samad, like so many other immigrants, is trying his best to hold his family together.
Those of us who belong to immigrant families are no strangers to harsh policies of exclusion. In fact, for the majority of my life, my recurring nightmare was that I’d come home to an empty house; my loved ones gone. We’ve been fortunate to stay together, but so many families have not. Today, I am asking that you join the League in protecting immigrant families. Here are some steps you can take today:
- Call your U.S. congressmen and women and ask them to pass a bill that prioritizes family reunification. Senator Feinstein’s bill the “Keep Families Together Act” does just that. Call (202)-224-3121. Dial “1” for the Senate or “2” for the House. State your zip code and you will be connected.
- Join the Protecting Immigrant Families – Michigan campaign and help us defeat the next assault on immigrant families that is already underway. We are working closely with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center to defeat a regulation that would make it harder for immigrants to obtain lawful permanent residence in the U.S.
- SIGN THE PLEDGE to submit a public comment when this rule is published. Share it widely with your friends, colleagues and institutions.
- Talk about this issue with your friends, family, neighbors, etc. Immigration policy and law is complex, but human rights are not. Help us put a face to this issue by discussing the real impact of these policies on immigrant families and children. You can find our research on this topic here.
- Organize. It was people power and organizing that brought together millions of concerned citizens and advocates on June 30th at Families Belong Together rallies. The League offers advocacy trainings to organizations and groups. Contact Renell Weathers, rweathers@mlpp.org to learn more.
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.
