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Jackson Co. Board Deadlocks on Immigration Rights Resolution

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Tuesday night, the Jackson County Board shut down a proposed resolution by the Immigrant Rights Project that would welcome immigrants in Southern Illinois.

Jess Jobe is a volunteer with the project and says it was a disappointing evening.
"It's okay that the resolution failed, we're quite a bit more disappointed with the tone of the evening in terms of those who were there in opposition to the resolution. They certainly had a right to be there and to express their opposition. But, there was a lot of unnecessary hostility and a lot of misinformation.
 
Board member Emily Burke says the resolution is like one adopted by many communities throughout the U.S. in response to President Donald Trump's plans for strict immigration reform.
 
"Some local governments that have adopted it have removed it because they've found that it makes them ineligible for federal funding and that there are issues with the legality of it."
 
Burke says there were parts she just couldn't approve.
 
"There was a particular section of the resolution that would prohibit law enforcement from asking questions, citizenship status of an individual regardless of what sort of crime they had committed."

She added it's not an issue for the County Board to consider.
 
"To my knowledge, we do our best to stay out of federal matters. So, adopting a resolution like this is really tip toeing into the matters of immigration that are better left to our federal government and the laws of our land."
 
Jobe says her group won't push another county resolution, but will continue to try to educate the community.

Burke was one of 6 no votes, resulting in a deadlocked vote.
 

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