Michigan Democrats Visit Minnesota to Protest Immigration Tactics

Four state representatives say they heard "harrowing" stories from community organizers about the impact of immigration enforcement efforts.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 6:31pm

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A group of four Democratic state representatives from Michigan traveled to Minnesota this week to "stand in solidarity" against what they described as violent immigration enforcement tactics. The lawmakers, including Erin Byrnes, Emily Dievendorf, Veronica Paiz, and Natalie Price, met with community organizers and heard testimony inside the Minnesota Legislature about the impact of immigration enforcement on local communities, including reports of half-empty classrooms as parents are afraid to send their children to school.

Why it matters

The Michigan lawmakers' visit to Minnesota highlights growing concerns among Democrats about aggressive immigration enforcement efforts and their impact on local communities. The representatives say they are worried similar tactics could be used in Michigan, especially after recent ICE detentions of parents in Ypsilanti, and want to raise awareness of the issue.

The details

The Michigan lawmakers traveled to Minnesota on Wednesday and Thursday, with most of them going after the legislative session on Wednesday. State Rep. Veronica Paiz was the only one to miss a day of the Michigan legislative session to make the trip. The representatives said they heard "harrowing" stories from community organizers about the impact of immigration enforcement, including reports of half-empty classrooms as parents are afraid to send their children to school.

  • The Michigan lawmakers traveled to Minnesota on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
  • On Wednesday, ICE agents detained parents in Ypsilanti, Michigan, which the lawmakers said "should send a chill down every person's spine."

The players

Erin Byrnes

A Democratic state representative from Southeastern Michigan who traveled to Minnesota.

Emily Dievendorf

A Democratic state representative from Southeastern Michigan who traveled to Minnesota.

Veronica Paiz

A Democratic state representative from Southeastern Michigan who traveled to Minnesota, missing a day of the legislative session to do so.

Natalie Price

A Democratic state representative from Southeastern Michigan who traveled to Minnesota.

Joe Aragona

A Republican state representative in Michigan who criticized the Democrats' trip, saying "You can't control what people do if they want to go and look foolish."

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What they’re saying

“What we heard from community organizers on the ground was harrowing.”

— Erin Byrnes, State Representative (CBS News Detroit)

“Hearing these stories coming out of Ypsilanti should send a chill down every person's spine, even if you don't live in Ypsilanti; that's not the point. It could happen anywhere.”

— Erin Byrnes, State Representative (CBS News Detroit)

“This isn't just a matter of I should be sitting at my desk and pushing a yes or no button. It's really a matter of being able to communicate with my constituents, to let them know my interests and why I am here.”

— Veronica Paiz, State Representative (CBS News Detroit)

“You can't control what people do if they want to go and look foolish. That's fine. I'm not sure why you would want to support criminal illegal aliens.”

— Joe Aragona, State Representative (CBS News Detroit)

What’s next

The Michigan lawmakers say they are worried similar aggressive immigration tactics could be used in their home state, and plan to continue raising awareness of the issue with their constituents.

The takeaway

The visit by the Michigan Democrats to Minnesota highlights the growing partisan divide over immigration enforcement, with Republicans criticizing the lawmakers' trip as "looking foolish" while the Democrats say they heard "harrowing" stories that could happen in their own communities.