Illegal immigrants would get comp benefits under Mich. bill

LANSING, Mich.–A Michigan lawmaker has introduced legislation that would extend workers compensation benefits to illegal immigrants.

H.B. 5952 would amend Michigan's workers current compensation law, which eliminates employer responsibility for workers comp benefits when an employee is unable to obtain or perform work because of imprisonment or the commission of a crime.

The bill filed last week would amend the law by stating that commission of a crime does not include an “alien working without employment authorization or an alien's use of false documents to obtain employment or to seek work.”

State Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, introduced the measure, but quickly drew fire from several lawmakers who oppose it.