Michigan Legislator Seeks Workers’ Compensation for Illegal Immigrants

March 18, 2010

A Michigan state representative has filed a bill to give illegal aliens in the state access to workers compensation benefits if they are injured on the job.

State Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, has introduced legislation (H.B. 5952) that would amend Michigan law that now bars workers’ compensation benefits to employees who cannot work because of a “commission of a crime” so that this exemption does not include “an alien’s working without employment authorization or an alien’s use of false documents to obtain employment or to seek work.”

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, there are an estimated 110,000 illegal aliens in Michigan. A group of them held a rally at the State Capitol in Lansing last week.

At the rally, Tlaibi said that Michigan is one of only a few states that does not compensate undocumented workers for workplace injuries. Her proposal is “a better system than allowing people to be part of a black market of undocumented workers,” she said.

The legislation came under fire from other legislators.

“The only thing we should be giving illegal immigrants is a bus ride home,” state Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, told WILX-TV.

Topics Workers' Compensation Talent Michigan

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Latest Comments

  • March 19, 2010 at 10:59 am
    sick of it says:
    I am sick to death of this crap. I have been unable to get a job in the small town I live in. All the jobs are being taken by illegals. I don't suspect this, I know it. ... read more
  • March 19, 2010 at 10:21 am
    djones says:
    I feel your pain. I can't get a CSR job because I don't speak Spanish. CSRs are supposed to be licensed (I have agent license) in NV. They get the job because they speak the l... read more
  • March 19, 2010 at 10:08 am
    wudchuck says:
    accountability: first of all, why would any legislator create a bill for someone who is illegal? if so, then do no re-elect him back in office for he was not voted by the ille... read more

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