New reporting suggests the Trump administration is eyeing industrial warehouses as the next frontier of immigrant detention, with one potential site flagged right here in Michigan.

And despite how this is often framed by the federal government, the vast majority of people ICE detains aren’t violent criminals at all.

Today, The ’Gander’s Kyle Kaminski breaks down what this plan could look like on the ground and asks a bigger question: Is this still about immigration enforcement—or has it become something else entirely?

Plus: Trump touted a strong economy while speaking in Detroit this week, but the numbers in a new report tell a different story.

Slotkin says she’s under investigation following ‘illegal orders’ video (The Hill): Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan says she is under federal investigation over a November video in which she and other lawmakers urged service members to refuse illegal orders, a message the Trump administration has labeled seditious. Slotkin accused the administration of weaponizing the FBI and Justice Department against political opponents and said her family has faced bomb threats, swatting, and police visits since Trump publicly attacked her.

Thousands fewer Michiganders are signing up for health insurance (Bridge Michigan): About 40,000 fewer Michiganders have signed up for Affordable Care Act plans so far this year, with enrollment dropping from about 531,000 to roughly 491,500 as premiums rise and enhanced tax credits expire. The enrollment deadline is tonight, and state and federal officials are warning people not to miss their chance for coverage, even as national enrollment is down by about 800,000.

Thousands raised for Ford employee who heckled Trump (Freep): A Ford worker who was suspended after shouting at President Trump during a Dearborn plant tour asked supporters to close two GoFundMe pages that raised more than $810,000 for him. The incident went viral after Trump appeared to curse and give TJ Sabula the middle finger. Sabula has backing from the UAW and Democratic leaders like Rashida Tlaib and Pete Buttigieg, while Ford says it is investigating and handling discipline internally.

Industrial warehouses weren’t built for people.

But new reporting shows ICE plans to detain immigrants inside them—including at a proposed processing site in Highland Park.

As Political correspondent Kyle Kaminski reports on this edition of “so what, Michigan?”, local officials say they were blindsided.

(The ’Gander TikTok)

Ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to Detroit this week, Michigan lawmakers signed onto a new report warning that his economic agenda is driving up costs for families statewide. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

By Kyle Kaminski

President Donald Trump returned to Michigan on Tuesday for his first visit of 2026, addressing members and guests of the Detroit Economic Club as his administration faces growing criticism over rising costs that are squeezing working families across the state.

Ahead of the visit, Democratic state lawmakers and advocacy groups sounded alarms about the real-world impacts of Trump’s second term.

That criticism is detailed in a new, six-page report from Defend America Action and Progress Michigan, exclusively obtained by The ‘Gander ahead of Trump’s visit. 

Signed by 10 state lawmakers, the report argues that Trump’s tariffs, sweeping budget cuts, and rollback of clean energy investments are driving up the cost of groceries, utilities, health care, and housing for Michigan families while threatening jobs and economic stability statewide.

“Trump’s destructive policies are ripping away Michiganders’ economic security,” the report states. “Between his massive cuts to government spending, the Trump-GOP Big, Ugly Bill, and his disastrous tariff regime, Trump’s agenda is hurting the local economy in all areas, stoking a dire affordability crisis as food prices, energy bills, health care costs, and housing costs spike.”

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with stories from Kyle Kaminski. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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