LANSING, Mich. -- A Lake Odessa lawmaker has co-penned legislation that would punish predators who illegally transport people in Michigan.
At a news conference Tuesday, Republican State Representative Gina Johnsen and Northern Michigan State Rep Cam Cavitt announced an effort to criminalize human smuggling at the state level. The legislation would align Michigan's laws with federal regulations, empowering state prosecutors to take action.
"Human trafficking is a crime in the State of Michigan but, sadly, human smuggling is not," Johnsen said.
Human traffic refers to the exploitation of people in commercial sexual trade or forced labor. Human smuggling involves transporting people illegally into the country.
"From January to April of this year, U.S. Customs & Border (Protection) reports that there were already 8,600 encounters with smugglers here in Michigan," Johnsen said.
Because Michigan is a border state with Canada, it is responsible for more than 700 miles of the nation's northern border. Only Texas and Alaska are responsible for more international border.
The new legislation would criminalize alien smuggling and bringing unauthorized people into the state at unauthorized locations. Harboring and transporting people within the State of Michigan illegally or assisting that activity also would be a state crime.
"This legislation will help equip our law enforcement with the tools needed to effectively combat human smuggling," Cavitt said.
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State Reps. Gina Johnsen and Cam Cavett speaking at a news conference Tuesday.Photo: Source: Michigan House Republicans