“There is something intrinsically American about driving through rural Michigan surrounded by farmland as far as the eye can see,” said Johnsen, R-Portland. “Now, imagine the fear and doubt you’d feel knowing the fields surrounding you were owned by the Chinese or Iranians – countries who want nothing more than to see our democracy collapse. By purchasing Michigan farmland, these bad actors want to steal away our symbol for food security, generations of farming traditions, and American self-reliance. But this isn’t just about property – it’s about power. Allowing our enemies to scoop up our farmland exposes our national security to its core.”

“Last year, Democrats ignored our efforts to criminalize these heinous acts in Michigan,” said Cavitt, R-Cheboygan. “It was frustrating considering we’d spent nearly four years watching the weakness of the Biden Administration as countless illegal aliens flooded over our borders and threatened our communities. The reforms undertaken by President Trump have been a blessing for our country as border encounters are down significantly. Our human smuggling criminalization plan will support those efforts and ensure local law enforcement in Michigan can continue this important work at the state level.”