Michigan · Governor · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on immigration?
Jocelyn BensonDemocrat
John JamesRepublican
Part of the full Michigan Governor comparison · Last reviewed October 19, 2026
Immigration
Each position is labeled by what it rests on: a campaign proposal, a public statement, a past action such as a vote or lawsuit, or an enacted policy. Where nothing is documented, the page says so.
Documented positions
Jocelyn Benson
Says she would use every legal tool to protect residents from what she called the encroachment of ICE and to ensure due process and First and Fourth Amendment protections.
Show the evidence (2)Hide the evidence
- Public statementOct. 6, 2026
Asked in the Oct. 6, 2026 debate about immigration agents in schools, said she had seen federal authority used to 'terrorize' communities; afterward she said a governor must be ready to stand up to the president and use every legal tool to protect Michigan residents from 'the encroachment of ICE.' SourceBenson, James tackle affordability, federal relations at first gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)Michigan Advance, via Yahoo News · Oct. 6, 2026 · News
- Public statement2026
Asked by the League of Women Voters about due process and constitutional rights for all residents, including noncitizens, said she would use every tool available to ensure due process and First and Fourth Amendment protections and would stand up to anyone, including the president, who tries to undermine them. SourceMichigan Governor — VOTE411 Voter Guide (opens in a new tab)League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · 2026 · Candidate questionnaire
- Public statementOct. 6, 2026
Asked in the Oct. 6, 2026 debate about immigration agents in schools, said she had seen federal authority used to 'terrorize' communities; afterward she said a governor must be ready to stand up to the president and use every legal tool to protect Michigan residents from 'the encroachment of ICE.' SourceBenson, James tackle affordability, federal relations at first gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)Michigan Advance, via Yahoo News · Oct. 6, 2026 · News
- Public statement2026
Asked by the League of Women Voters about due process and constitutional rights for all residents, including noncitizens, said she would use every tool available to ensure due process and First and Fourth Amendment protections and would stand up to anyone, including the president, who tries to undermine them. SourceMichigan Governor — VOTE411 Voter Guide (opens in a new tab)League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · 2026 · Candidate questionnaire
John James
Opposes what he calls sanctuary policies and supports state and local cooperation with federal immigration authorities, prioritizing people who have committed violent crimes.
Show the evidence (2)Hide the evidence
- Campaign proposal2026
Says state agencies and local police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities, particularly regarding people who have committed crimes, and that he opposes sanctuary policies that prevent such cooperation. 2 sourcesMichigan Governor — VOTE411 Voter Guide (opens in a new tab)League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · 2026 · Candidate questionnaireTrump-Endorsed John James Releases New Ad Promising to Restore Law and Order (opens in a new tab)John James for MI · July 8, 2026 · Campaign
- Public statementOct. 6, 2026
In the Oct. 6 debate he said the state would prioritize violent offenders and enforce the law, and that he did not believe Michigan would need an ICE presence. SourceRepublican John James seeks some distance from Trump in Michigan governor debate (opens in a new tab)NBC News · Oct. 6, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposal2026
Says state agencies and local police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities, particularly regarding people who have committed crimes, and that he opposes sanctuary policies that prevent such cooperation. 2 sourcesMichigan Governor — VOTE411 Voter Guide (opens in a new tab)League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · 2026 · Candidate questionnaireTrump-Endorsed John James Releases New Ad Promising to Restore Law and Order (opens in a new tab)John James for MI · July 8, 2026 · Campaign
- Public statementOct. 6, 2026
In the Oct. 6 debate he said the state would prioritize violent offenders and enforce the law, and that he did not believe Michigan would need an ICE presence. SourceRepublican John James seeks some distance from Trump in Michigan governor debate (opens in a new tab)NBC News · Oct. 6, 2026 · News
Recorded votes on immigration
Selected votes
Jocelyn Benson
No legislative record
John James
Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 119th Congress)
ImmigrationRequires the Department of Homeland Security to detain non-U.S. nationals who are in the country unlawfully, or who lacked required documents when applying for admission, and who have been charged with, arrested for, convicted of or admit to burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, assault of a law enforcement officer, or any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person; authorizes states to sue the federal government over certain immigration-enforcement decisions or alleged failures.
Passed the House 263–156 on Jan. 22, 2025; signed into law Jan. 29, 2025.
3 sourcesRoll Call 23: S. 5, Laken Riley Act, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Jan. 22, 2025 · Legislative recordLaken Riley Act (S. 5, 119th Congress): CRS bill summaries (opens in a new tab)Congressional Research Service, via U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo) · Jan. 29, 2025 · Legislative recordJohn James (Michigan) (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia · ReferenceVoted yesU.S. House · Jan. 22, 2025
On Passage
House roll call 23, 2025 (official record, opens in a new tab)SourceRoll Call 23: S. 5, Laken Riley Act, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Jan. 22, 2025 · Legislative record
In their own words
Statements
Jocelyn Benson
Federal immigration enforcement in Michigan
It requires a governor who is willing to and ready to stand up to the President of the United States and use every legal tool in my toolbox, which other governors have done, and we've seen that do that successfully to protect the people of Michigan from the encroachment of ICE
Jocelyn Benson · Remarks after the first general-election debate with John James, held at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, as reported by Michigan Advance; in the debate she had been asked about immigration agents in schools · Oct. 6, 2026
SourceBenson, James tackle affordability, federal relations at first gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)Michigan Advance, via Yahoo News · Oct. 6, 2026 · News
John James
Federal immigration enforcement in Michigan
Frankly, I don’t believe we’re going to need ICE presence in the state of Michigan, because we are going to be enforcing the law.
John James · First general-election debate with Jocelyn Benson, held at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, as reported by NBC News · Oct. 6, 2026
2 sourcesRepublican John James seeks some distance from Trump in Michigan governor debate (opens in a new tab)NBC News · Oct. 6, 2026 · NewsBenson, James tackle affordability, federal relations at first gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)Michigan Advance, via Yahoo News · Oct. 6, 2026 · News
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