Earlier this week, Mediamouse.org reported that the Michigan Task Force on Border Security & Immigration Reform had released a new report that calls for a variety of new measures aimed at reducing undocumented immigration in Michigan. The task force includes West Michigan area Representative Dave Agema who has in the past pledged to make it difficult for undocumented immigrants "to survive" in Michigan.

Mediamouse.org has obtained a copy of the report, titled "Securing Our State," which was previously unavailable online. The report frames the discussion in terms of how undocumented immigration affects "economic security," "community security," and the need to "protect Michigan citizens" in light of the so-called failings of the federal government. From the start, it sets a tone that undocumented immigration is a threat and that immigrants should be feared. The report's introduction begins by talking about it as a security issue before asserting that "illegal immigration costs U.S. and Michigan taxpayers money as it results in higher costs to schools, health care and human services." However, the report makes no mention of specific costs and indeed calls for more investigation into the topic.

The report contains 15 legislative recommendations that are designed to "help combat illegal immigration and the negative effects that it has on our state." The recommendations were compiled based on the comments of those who testified at a series of four hearings held across Michigan by the task force. The majority of those testifying at the hearings were government, law enforcement, or business representatives. There was no testimony from immigrant rights organizations or nonprofit organizations that assist immigrants.

Consequently, the recommendations focus primarily on ways to reduce undocumented immigration by criminalizing immigrants. It urges more cooperation between state and federal law enforcement as well as giving law enforcement officers the ability to ask about a person's immigration status. Similarly, the bill seeks to penalize cities by withholding revenue if they designate themselves as "sanctuary cities" in which they do not enforce immigration law. It also calls for stronger federal border patrols, as well as measures aimed at denying undocumented immigrants access to employment, identification cards, and labor unions.

Following the recommendations, the report summarizes the testimony delivered at the hearings. While it contains short summaries of what was said by each person on the agenda, it makes no mention of what was said during the public comment period. In the case of the hearing in West Michigan, this omission is particularly glaring as several people commenting directly contradicted what was said and called the task force out for only presenting only one side of the issue.