HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 164

Reps. Xiong, Steckloff, Foreman, Young, MacDonell, Breen, Puri, McFall, T. Carter, Longjohn, Dievendorf, Fitzgerald, Morgan, Brixie, Andrews, B. Carter, Glanville, Snyder, Liberati, Herzberg, Miller, Paiz, Wilson, Edwards, Tsernoglou, Price, Rheingans, Conlin, Scott, Wegela, Pohutsky, Myers-Phillips, Byrnes, Skaggs, Koleszar, Weiss, Grant, Rogers, O'Neal, Hope, Martus and Wooden offered the following resolution:

A resolution calling for transparency, due process, and further case-by-case review in the immigration cases of Hmong and Laotian refugees in Michigan.

Whereas, In July 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained approximately 16 Hmong and Laotian refugees in Michigan. Most of these individuals were summoned to what they believed were routine immigration check-ins, only to be unexpectedly taken into custody upon arrival. Since these individuals were taken into custody, there have been urgent appeals from their family and community for their release; and

Whereas, ICE transferred several of these detainees from Michigan to facilities in Texas and Louisiana, and ultimately deported them to Laos in mid-August. The treatment of these individuals, particularly their rapid movement across several sites, has raised serious due process and oversight concerns. When detainees are quickly moved from one site to another, they may not have sufficient time to obtain legal counsel and raise potential defenses to detention and deportation before they are removed from the country. Furthermore, the speed with which some of these cases are processed can make it difficult to conduct effective oversight of individual cases; and

Whereas, The manner in which these detentions and deportations were carried out has deeply terrified the Hmong and Laotian communities in Michigan, who are longtime residents and contributors to our state, the descendants of U.S. allies in the Vietnam War. The situation has raised questions about justice and the appropriate treatment of immigrants and refugees; and

Whereas, The United States has no memorandum of understanding or repatriation agreement with Laos under which the Laotian Government has agreed to accept immigrants deported from the United States. This means that the United States government needs to obtain travel documents for individuals who are to be deported to Laos. Given that it must take time to obtain these travel documents, the federal government could provide advance notice to individuals it intends to deport, rather than detaining them with no warning; and

Whereas, Several Michigan state legislators, community leaders, and advocacy organizations have publicly demanded greater transparency, oversight, and humane treatment for those detained. We must ensure that our values of fairness, compassion, and respect for human dignity are upheld; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we demand transparency from federal authorities regarding the legal basis, procedural handling, and current conditions of the Hmong and Laotian individuals detained and deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including confirmation of whether due process, such as proper warrants and notice, was respected; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide immediate access to legal counsel, timely family notification, and humane treatment for detainees, including access to medical care and communication with loved ones; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage federal authorities to allow sufficient time for further case-by-case review of each individual?s circumstances in immigration cases, especially for individuals with deep Michigan roots, community ties, or humanitarian histories, to assess relief options or alternatives to detention; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of Homeland Security and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.