Michigan state Sen. Jim Runestad believes the upper chamber’s priorities are out of whack.
A month after the state’s July 1 budget deadline, the White Lake Republican blasted his Democratic colleagues on Monday for focusing instead on unmasking Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at a time when they’re facing an 830% increase in attacks.
“Democrats blew past the state budget deadline because they refuse to work with House Republicans on a fair, transparent budget. Instead of negotiating in good faith, they’re wasting time pushing radical legislation that attacks law enforcement,” Runestad said in a statement.
Michigan Democrats last week introduced legislation that would jail law enforcement officers who conceal their identity to avoid harassment and attacks on their families.
Despite an 830% increase in assaults on federal immigration agents, bill sponsor Rep. Betsy Coffia, D-Traverse City, and other Democrats argue masked officers generate fear and unnecessary risk, MLive reports.
The legislation, dubbed the Justice Needs No Mask bill, mirrors federal legislation from U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., that would require federal immigration agents and any deputized state or local officers to clearly display legible identification – including name or badge number – that’s not obscured by tactical gear or clothing.
Like Slotkin’s VISIBLE Act, Coffia’s House Bill 4760 would require all officers to display their name or badge number, along with the law enforcement agency they work for. The legislation creates a misdemeanor charge that comes with up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 for any law enforcement officer in Michigan who conceals their identity, with few exceptions.
“Their latest scheme would put a target on the faces of the very people working to keep our communities safe by prohibiting them from wearing masks,” Runestad said. “Earlier this month, 10 gunmen stormed an ICE facility in Texas with the goal of killing ICE agents. And now Democrats want to make it even easier for violent extremists to identify and hunt down officers working to detain illegal criminal immigrants.”
The Department of Homeland Security last month highlighted an 830% increase in assaults on ICE agents since January when compared to the same period in 2024.
The attacks include a physical assault in New Jersey, officers doxed in Oregon, an ambush in Texas, shots fired on Texas Border Patrol facilities, and masked vigilantes pointing guns at agents in California, among others.
“Representative Salud Carbajal, D-CA, showed a violent mob an ICE employee’s business card, putting a target on his back and prompting the mob to attack him,” according to a DHS release. “The official was struck in the head by a rock and sent to the emergency room where he received multiple stitches.”
While Michigan Democrats are united in an effort to expose ICE agents – with others including Attorney General Dana Nessel, and U.S. Reps. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, and Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit – backing similar legislation in the U.S. House, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Twp., said Coffia’s legislation will never become law, according to MLive.
“The Michigan House will never pass this attack on law enforcement,” Hall said. “The people want these dangerous criminal aliens off our street, and we are doing everything we can to partner with the Trump administration and put an end to illegal immigration.”
Pursuing legislation with zero chance of becoming law illustrates Democrats are unserious about resolving budget issues to set a spending plan for Michiganders, Runestad said.
“This is what happens when you elect people more interested in appeasing the far left than keeping Michigan safe,” he said. “While Republicans are working to get a budget done that protects our communities, Democrats have once again shown they are more interested in partisan games at the expense of public safety.”
