Several Michigan lawmakers, frustrated with the defeat in Congress of an immigration law overhaul, are proposing state laws to punish employers who hire illegal immigrants.

The lawmakers, all Democrats from the state House, offered a package of bills late last week intended to crack down on employers, making it a felony to hire an illegal immigrant knowingly. Violation could mean fines of up to $250,000 and as much as five years in prison for repeat offenders.

The sponsors said the legislation would be formally introduced this month in the House. “We have no legal weapons right now in the state of Michigan,” said State Representative Kate Ebli, one of the sponsors. “What we’re doing is giving our state the tools that we need.”

Adrian Vazquez, who works for the Michigan Organizing Project, an immigrant rights group, said such a plan would destroy the lives of people who had raised their families in Michigan and contributed to the economy. Illegal immigrants, Mr. Vazquez said, should not have to pay for a broken immigration system; the federal government should fix it.