Whitmer says state assistance shouldn't go to those in US illegally, wants border reform
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GRAND RAPIDS — As Republican opposition to a state program providing housing assistance to immigrants and refugees mounts, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she doesn't believe individuals who enter the U.S. illegally should receive state benefits.
That's already the case for the Newcomer Rental Subsidy program, state officials say, although its critics have remained skeptical of how thoroughly the program vets the immigration status of recipients.
"If you are here illegally, I do not believe that you should have access," Whitmer said during a scrum with reporters in Grand Rapids on Monday. Whitmer also called for reform of U.S. border policy, but stressed it needs to be done "in a responsible way."
Whitmer's comments come on the heels of growing Republican criticism of the Newcomer Rental Subsidy program, including from former President Donald Trump and state House Minority Leader Matt Hall, R-Richland Twp.
Under the program run by the Office of Global Michigan (OGM), eligible refugees and immigrants can receive up to $500 in rental assistance for up to 12 months. Since launching last October, it has provided assistance for 1,242 immigrants, including 537 refugees and 504 Afghans who aided U.S. forces. The agency has approved 245 applications, close to half of those received. The subsidy is funded by a combination of Michigan State Housing Development Authority funds and federal money from the U.S. Treasury and Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Those who are in the U.S. illegally are not eligible for the subsidy, and OGM officials say those who enter the country and file what's known as a defensive asylum claim are also not eligible for the subsidy. As the Free Press reported last week, agency officials say to receive rental assistance through the subsidy program, the federal government has to have determined the individual is in the U.S. legally. There are also income and work-based eligibility requirements for the program.
Backers of the program say the rental assistance is vital to helping refugees, asylees and other newcomer populations assimilate into communities and achieve economic well-being.
More: No, Whitmer is not subsidizing 'illegal aliens' in Michigan as Trump claims
Beyond claims about rental assistance for refugees in Michigan, immigration and security at the U.S. Southern border with Mexico are expected to be a campaign issue this year — border crossings have spiked in recent months and polling shows the border is an issue of concern for many American voters. In December, there were more than 300,000 enforcement encounters at the border, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.
Whitmer, speaking to reporters Monday, said there needs to be reform of federal border policy, but warned any reform must acknowledge the economic impact generated by immigrants in the U.S. and in Michigan.
"I know that we've got to reform immigration in this country. There is no question about that," she said. "And it's important that we do it in a responsible way because our economy relies on immigration. That is the great strength of the history of our state and our country. And yet, the system that we now have is not working."
Whitmer added the Office of Global Michigan, which is housed in the state Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, "has done a lot of great work under the Trump administration and under the Biden administration."
Washington correspondent Todd Spangler contributed with prior reporting.
Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com. Follow him on X (Twitter) @arpanlobo.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Whitmer says 'responsible' immigration reform needed
