After an illegal alien murdered a 25-year-old woman in Michigan last week, House Republican Leader Matt Hall on Wednesday called for action to crack down on illegal immigration and ban sanctuary cities.
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 25, of Mexico, admitted to shooting 25-year-old Ruby Garcia multiple times in her car before leaving her for dead on the side of US-131.
He turned himself in days later with blood on his clothes, according to court filings.
Ortiz-Vite is charged with felony murder, open murder, carjacking, and possession of two weapons.
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According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, he was illegally present in the United States. According to an ICE official, Ortiz-Vite is from Mexico and was already deported in 2020. He eventually reentered the United States.
“Joe Biden’s failure to secure the border has allowed multitudes of illegals — including dangerous criminals — to break into our country,” said Hall, R-Richland Township. “This illegal immigration crisis has bred deadly consequences right here in Michigan. A secure border would have kept Ruby Garcia’s murderer out of our state and nation, but Democrats have refused to fully enforce our immigration laws and national security.”
In a letter to Chair Tullio Liberati, Hall urged the House Government Operations Committee to hold a hearing on his plan to ban sanctuary cities and counties.
The legislation would prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting policies that prevent local employees from communicating or cooperating with federal immigration officials.
Hall and House Republicans introduced the bills nine months ago in June of 2023, but the committee has not yet held a hearing despite the ongoing illegal immigration crisis.
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“Rogue politicians in Michigan communities put public safety at even greater risk when they refuse to work with federal officers trying to apprehend illegals,” Hall said. “These sanctuary cities and counties invite proven criminals, like Ruby’s killer, to come where they can hide from deportation even if they’re arrested for another crime. Disastrous sanctuary policies impede the work of federal immigration officials and exacerbate the public safety crisis. We must ban sanctuary cities to protect Michigan residents.”
More than 20 Michigan communities with a total of more than 5.5 million residents have designated themselves as “sanctuary” or “welcoming” communities. Grand Rapids is an official welcoming city, meaning that it has policies separating local law enforcement from federal immigration enforcement agencies, and Kent County is a sanctuary county.
Hall sponsored House Bill 4880 to ban sanctuary policies for counties, and he co-sponsored HB 4879 to do the same for cities, villages, and townships.
Rep. Cam Cavitt, the lead sponsor of HB 4879, co-signed Hall’s letter requesting a committee hearing.
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