KALAMAZOO, MI -- The arrest of a Michigan doctor by U.S. Customs and Immigration officials is evidence of a broken immigration system, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton said.

Dr. Lukasz Niec was arrested by ICE agents at his Kalamazoo County home on Jan. 16. The Bronson HealthCare employee is originally from Poland, but has lived in the U.S. since immigrating to America with his family at age 5.

Upton, a Republican representing Michigan's 6th District, said in a prepared statement Tuesday that his office is working with Niec's legal team. The congressman said he also brought the issue to "dozens of colleagues" and the bi-partisan Problem Solvers Caucus during the weekend.

"This case, and others like it around the country, tug at the heart and soul of our conscience," Upton said. "It is why we must legislatively fix our broken immigration system. Our focus should be on removing those who threaten our country or have committed grave offenses - not productive members of our communities."

Niec held a permanent green card. ICE officials said Tuesday that the doctor came under federal scrutiny because of 18 contacts with local law enforcement, while two misdemeanor convictions made him eligible for deportation.

Kalamazoo County District Court records show Niec has 22 cases generated from 18 contacts with police. Violations include four no proof of insurance violations, seven speeding tickets, failure to change address on license, causing an accident, careless driving, seat belt violation, driving without due care, and parking near a fire hydrant.

In 1992, Niec was convicted of malicious destruction of property under $100. A teenager, he was also convicted of receiving stolen property and a financial transaction device.

Niec pleaded guilty to a 2008 operating impaired by liquor offense in Kalamazoo County. He completed probation, and the conviction was set aside, the plea withdrawn and the case dismissed, as part of a plea agreement.

He was charged with domestic violence in 2013, but a jury found him not guilty after a trial, records show.

Previous administrations prioritized deportations of violent criminals over low-level offenders. Guidelines under President Donald Trump are more broad -- federal agents can seek to deport people in the country illegally who were convicted of any crime, no matter how minor.

Upton said Niec signed a privacy release that allows his office to work with him in a "constructive way." No other details were released Tuesday from the Republican congressman.

"The anxiety and fear that Dr. Niec and his family must be experiencing is unfathomable," Upton said. "He is clearly a much-respected member of our community and we will continue to work with all involved on a resolution."

State Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, said Niec's case is one of many in Kalamazoo County. Though as a state representative he is limited in impacting federal immigration issues, Hoadley said he remains in close contact with families of people who are deported.

Most cases he's heard of involve people who work hard and pay taxes, Hoadley said. Without warning, they are separated from their family and sent to a country to which they have no current connection.

Hoadley called the deportation of lawful non-citizens with green cards one of the most "inhumane" experiences imaginable.

"This is why the system is so broken," he said. "This is one high profile example of how the immigration system, often for political reasons, hasn't been modernized or updated for years."

The Trump administration is aggressive in prosecuting deportation cases, he said, but ICE is "clearly going beyond" and targeting folks who aren't a threat to the public.