State Representative
Veronica Paiz
Harper Woods | 10th House District
Serving 93,243 constituents in ENE Detroit, Harper Woods, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Shores and Grosse Pointe Woods
[email protected]
(517) 373-0857
Office: N-689 House Office Building
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Veronica Paiz
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Veronica Paiz
Racist Republican legislators strip Black voters of voting rights with ridiculous redistricted maps. Republicans know they can’t win on good policy and being decent people. They know the only way they can win is by rigging elections. They’ll try to do it here.
Tennessee Approves New Map Aimed at Flipping the Last Democratic Seat (Gift Article)
www.nytimes.com
After a Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Republicans carved up a majority-Black Memphis seat as the national redistricting wars continue.5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Racist Republicans in Tennessee working hard to snuff out the voices and rights of people of color. Republicans around the country are working to do the same thing in their states. Don’t let it happen in Michigan.
www.nytimes.com
The General Assembly is expected to quickly approve the map, which slices up Memphis, a majority-Black city that makes up most of the state’s lone Democratic district.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Register here for my Know Your Rights Town Hall this Saturday with guests from the ACLU and Michigan House of Representatives: docs.google.com/forms/d/1PeMxqxEPvakXJfdjzGcsD-OfINnO6E0Y37THa2QLfeE/edit
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Join me in celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week May 4th through May 8th! Thank you to the educators in HD-10 and across the state for your hard work in shaping the minds and hearts of the next generation. #teacherappreciationweek🍎✏️📚
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Along with over a dozen of my State Rep & Senator colleagues, I signed on to a letter to U.S. ICE in both D.C. and Detroit requesting a tour of the North Lake "Processing Center" (per the The GEO Group, Inc.website and U.S. ICE website), or "Correctional Facility" ("Prison and Correctional Facility", per its unofficial Facebook page) or as it's often referred as "Detention Center" and "Correctional Facility".) which is the largest such immigration detention facility in the midwest. We were refused.
Below is the text & pictures of the letter we sent, which also details some of the goings-on there. More info to come soon.
Todd Lyons, Acting Director
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
500 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20536
Kevin Raycraft, Field Director
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
985 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
Dear Acting Director Lyons and Director Raycraft,
We are writing to express our strong concerns about the conditions at North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan. We understand that detainees in several housing units at the North Lake Processing Center have engaged in hunger strikes in recent weeks. We are grateful for their courage in organizing and advocating for their rights. Over 100 interfaith clergy members are engaging in a solidarity fast.
Several of us are participating in the solidarity fast today to show our support for the detainees and faith leaders. We urge the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to immediately take all necessary steps to ensure the safety, health and well-being of the individuals held at this facility, the largest detention center in the Midwest.
There have been many reported ongoing issues with medical care, food, and family visits at the facility.
On March 5, 2026, MLive reported that there were 87 9-1-1 emergency calls between June 2025 and January 2026 from the facility. Examples have included a man with "intense abdominal pain" and "signs of appendicitis" and a pregnant woman who was experiencing "possible seizures". Another call was for a man "in altered mental state". We have heard numerous stories of detainees not being given medical treatment in a timely fashion or not being given the appropriate medication until after repeated advocacy.
A man who previously had surgeries and was at risk for infection had to ask for medical care five times before being given medication that was irrelevant to his conditions. Nenko Gantchev died in ICE custody at North Lake Processing Center in December 2025, and his family and community are rightfully questioning whether he received adequate medical attention. Records also show that there was an individual who attempted suicide on November 25.
We have heard reports of inadequate food and lower rations over time. We have also talked to family members who have loved ones detained at North Lake Processing Center who have experienced difficulties visiting the facility - not being given enough time to visit.
Detainees deserve to have unencumbered access to information from ICE about their legal cases, due process, and reasonable bond amounts. Michigan Public recently reported that judges have set bonds as high as $30,000 or $50,000 for detainees who judges have deemed to be illegally detained; many of the detainees have no criminal record whatsoever, simply want to return home to their communities, and are not a flight risk.
We are writing to request a meeting to discuss these concerns, to ask that you allow us a tour of the North Lake Processing Center to observe detainee living conditions firsthand, and to ask for a written response regarding actions ICE will undertake to immediately address the concerns regarding inadequate medical care, food and living conditions at the North Lake Processing Center.
Thank you for your attention to this issue and we look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Chang, State Senator, District 3
Senator Mary Cavanagh, District 6
Senator Jeremy Moss, District 7
State Senator Erika Geiss, District 1
Veronica Paiz, State Representative, District 10
State Representative Betsy Coffia, District 103
State Representative Mai Xiong, District 13
State Rep Donavan McKinney, District 11
Senator Darrin Camilleri, District 4
Senator Sue Shink, District 14
Representative Carrie Rheingans, District 47
State Representative Tonya Myers Phillips, District 7
Senator Rosemary Bayer, District 13
State Representative District 77
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
⤵️🎯Official Statement from UAW Region 1 and the Region 1 Civil and Human Rights Council.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
International Workers’ Day is a day rooted in the struggle for fair labor and human dignity. Join me in honoring the hard-working people of Michigan today, and every day.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Several years ago, one of my constituents who is a licensed massage therapist (LMT), and former member of the Michigan Board of Massage Therapy, contacted me about creating legislation that would require apprenticeships for licensing. She suggested apprenticeships would be helpful in recruiting rural residents into the profession (which is experiencing a shortage). Essentially, education accessibility. Also, you may recall a sex trafficking bust at a “massage therapy” business in St. Clair Shores a couple years ago (which was in my district at the time). With that in mind, we also made a bill for continuing education about human trafficking. And, lastly, there is a massage therapy compact bill which addresses the shortage by allowing LMTs to practice across state lines. House Bills 5946, 5947, 5948. (I am sponsor of HBs 5947 & 5948 (apprenticeship program and compact); @repkimberlyedwards sponsors HB 5946 (continuing ed). #MassageTherapy #massagetherapyeducation #michiganmassagetherapy
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During session today, we voted on a bill to delete Cesar Chavez’s name from a 2003 law (public act) which establishes holidays for certain individuals and leaders. Chavez was the revered face/leader of United Farm Workers - a driving force in field workers’ crusade for safe work environment, livable wages, and civil rights. He has been credibly accused of rape and sexual abuse of women and girls, as reported by a New York Times investigation and women who have come forward to tell their stories. I agree with the bill and voted yes. However, I also offered a substitute bill which would replace Chavez’ name with a recognition of Farm Workers Day and the people who built this tremendous force in worker rights and labor history. The substitute was not accepted. This 3 minute video clip is my floor speech.
#UFW #UnitedFarmWorkers #FarmworkerRights #Chavez
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
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Veronica Paiz IN THE NEWS
Hoskins, Young, Myers Phillips, Paiz Reintroduce the Michigan Voting Rights Act
Hoskins, Young, Myers Phillips, Paiz Reintroduce the Michigan Voting Rights Act Democratic lawmakers demand swift action against heightened federal attacks [...]
Rep. Paiz Says Erasing Cesar Chavez Day Is Not Enough, Advocates Renaming It to Farmworkers Day
Rep. Paiz Says Erasing Cesar Chavez Day Is Not Enough, Advocates Renaming It to Farmworkers Day Press Release | [...]
Rep. Paiz Releases Statement on Cesar Chavez
Rep. Paiz Releases Statement on Cesar Chavez Press Statement | Office of State Rep. Veronica Paiz LANSING, Mich., March [...]
Racist Republican legislators strip Black voters of voting rights with ridiculous redistricted maps. Republicans know they can’t win on good policy and being decent people. They know the only way they can win is by rigging elections. They’ll try to do it here. ... See MoreSee Less
Tennessee Approves New Map Aimed at Flipping the Last Democratic Seat (Gift Article)
www.nytimes.com
After a Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Republicans carved up a majority-Black Memphis seat as the national redistricting wars continue.5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Racist Republicans in Tennessee working hard to snuff out the voices and rights of people of color. Republicans around the country are working to do the same thing in their states. Don’t let it happen in Michigan.
... See MoreSee Less
Tennessee Republicans Unveil New Congressional Map Carving Up Majority-Black House District (Gift Article)
www.nytimes.com
The General Assembly is expected to quickly approve the map, which slices up Memphis, a majority-Black city that makes up most of the state’s lone Democratic district.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Register here for my Know Your Rights Town Hall this Saturday with guests from the ACLU and Michigan House of Representatives: docs.google.com/forms/d/1PeMxqxEPvakXJfdjzGcsD-OfINnO6E0Y37THa2QLfeE/edit ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Join me in celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week May 4th through May 8th! Thank you to the educators in HD-10 and across the state for your hard work in shaping the minds and hearts of the next generation. #teacherappreciationweek🍎✏️📚 ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Along with over a dozen of my State Rep & Senator colleagues, I signed on to a letter to U.S. ICE in both D.C. and Detroit requesting a tour of the North Lake "Processing Center" (per the The GEO Group, Inc.website and U.S. ICE website), or "Correctional Facility" ("Prison and Correctional Facility", per its unofficial Facebook page) or as it's often referred as "Detention Center" and "Correctional Facility".) which is the largest such immigration detention facility in the midwest. We were refused.
Below is the text & pictures of the letter we sent, which also details some of the goings-on there. More info to come soon.
Todd Lyons, Acting Director
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
500 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20536
Kevin Raycraft, Field Director
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
985 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
Dear Acting Director Lyons and Director Raycraft,
We are writing to express our strong concerns about the conditions at North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan. We understand that detainees in several housing units at the North Lake Processing Center have engaged in hunger strikes in recent weeks. We are grateful for their courage in organizing and advocating for their rights. Over 100 interfaith clergy members are engaging in a solidarity fast.
Several of us are participating in the solidarity fast today to show our support for the detainees and faith leaders. We urge the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to immediately take all necessary steps to ensure the safety, health and well-being of the individuals held at this facility, the largest detention center in the Midwest.
There have been many reported ongoing issues with medical care, food, and family visits at the facility.
On March 5, 2026, MLive reported that there were 87 9-1-1 emergency calls between June 2025 and January 2026 from the facility. Examples have included a man with "intense abdominal pain" and "signs of appendicitis" and a pregnant woman who was experiencing "possible seizures". Another call was for a man "in altered mental state". We have heard numerous stories of detainees not being given medical treatment in a timely fashion or not being given the appropriate medication until after repeated advocacy.
A man who previously had surgeries and was at risk for infection had to ask for medical care five times before being given medication that was irrelevant to his conditions. Nenko Gantchev died in ICE custody at North Lake Processing Center in December 2025, and his family and community are rightfully questioning whether he received adequate medical attention. Records also show that there was an individual who attempted suicide on November 25.
We have heard reports of inadequate food and lower rations over time. We have also talked to family members who have loved ones detained at North Lake Processing Center who have experienced difficulties visiting the facility - not being given enough time to visit.
Detainees deserve to have unencumbered access to information from ICE about their legal cases, due process, and reasonable bond amounts. Michigan Public recently reported that judges have set bonds as high as $30,000 or $50,000 for detainees who judges have deemed to be illegally detained; many of the detainees have no criminal record whatsoever, simply want to return home to their communities, and are not a flight risk.
We are writing to request a meeting to discuss these concerns, to ask that you allow us a tour of the North Lake Processing Center to observe detainee living conditions firsthand, and to ask for a written response regarding actions ICE will undertake to immediately address the concerns regarding inadequate medical care, food and living conditions at the North Lake Processing Center.
Thank you for your attention to this issue and we look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Chang, State Senator, District 3
Senator Mary Cavanagh, District 6
Senator Jeremy Moss, District 7
State Senator Erika Geiss, District 1
Veronica Paiz, State Representative, District 10
State Representative Betsy Coffia, District 103
State Representative Mai Xiong, District 13
State Rep Donavan McKinney, District 11
Senator Darrin Camilleri, District 4
Senator Sue Shink, District 14
Representative Carrie Rheingans, District 47
State Representative Tonya Myers Phillips, District 7
Senator Rosemary Bayer, District 13
State Representative District 77 ... See MoreSee Less
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
⤵️🎯Official Statement from UAW Region 1 and the Region 1 Civil and Human Rights Council. ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
International Workers’ Day is a day rooted in the struggle for fair labor and human dignity. Join me in honoring the hard-working people of Michigan today, and every day. ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Several years ago, one of my constituents who is a licensed massage therapist (LMT), and former member of the Michigan Board of Massage Therapy, contacted me about creating legislation that would require apprenticeships for licensing. She suggested apprenticeships would be helpful in recruiting rural residents into the profession (which is experiencing a shortage). Essentially, education accessibility. Also, you may recall a sex trafficking bust at a “massage therapy” business in St. Clair Shores a couple years ago (which was in my district at the time). With that in mind, we also made a bill for continuing education about human trafficking. And, lastly, there is a massage therapy compact bill which addresses the shortage by allowing LMTs to practice across state lines. House Bills 5946, 5947, 5948. (I am sponsor of HBs 5947 & 5948 (apprenticeship program and compact); @repkimberlyedwards sponsors HB 5946 (continuing ed). #MassageTherapy #massagetherapyeducation #michiganmassagetherapy ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
During session today, we voted on a bill to delete Cesar Chavez’s name from a 2003 law (public act) which establishes holidays for certain individuals and leaders. Chavez was the revered face/leader of United Farm Workers - a driving force in field workers’ crusade for safe work environment, livable wages, and civil rights. He has been credibly accused of rape and sexual abuse of women and girls, as reported by a New York Times investigation and women who have come forward to tell their stories. I agree with the bill and voted yes. However, I also offered a substitute bill which would replace Chavez’ name with a recognition of Farm Workers Day and the people who built this tremendous force in worker rights and labor history. The substitute was not accepted. This 3 minute video clip is my floor speech.
#UFW #UnitedFarmWorkers #FarmworkerRights #Chavez ... See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook