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NEWS
Thursday, May 11, 2017
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Washtenaw County officials allocate taxpayer
funds in support of undocumented immigrants
Proposals aim to
welcome immigrants
and offer human
services support
By AMARA SHAIKH
For the Daily
Washtenaw County officials have
allocated funds to support undocu-
mented immigrants with a 5-2 vote
from the County Board of Commis-
sioners on a series of resolutions.
These proposals will be funded with
taxpayer money and are estimated
to total about $135,200 of one-time
expenses.
Two of the proposals aim to
express the county’s welcoming
attitude toward immigrants, while
the final resolution gives autho-
rization to the county to fund the
Barrier Buster program, which pro-
vides short-term human services
support. It also aides the Michigan
Immigrants Rights Center, which
provides services to those struggling
with the immigration process.
During a meeting on the resolu-
tions Wednesday, Commissioner
Conan Smith said the recent climate
surrounding immigration has had
negative effects on the community.
According to Smith, local govern-
ments should worry most about “the
intimidation effect these policies
and actions have on the immigrant
community.”
Though the package of resolu-
tions faced opposition, it was able
to pass with the support of Com-
missioners Jason Morgan, Andy
LaBarre, Ricky Jefferson and Kent
Martinez-Kratz.
Commissioner
Martinez-Kratz and Commissioner
LaBarre both expressed the primary
goal of the resolutions was to aid
families caught in the crossfire of
immigration issues.
“Originally the resolutions were
written up to support families who
might be going through difficult
times due to increased immigration
enforcement, and we envisioned
that the money would go to support-
ing them,” Martinez-Kratz said.
LaBarre also explained how
the decision allowed the board to
express their disagreement with
President Donald J. Trump and
his administration’s sentiments on
immigration.
“The package of resolutions
allowed us to one, enumerate our
position as a board in terms of what
we thought of the (Trump) adminis-
tration’s immigration policies, obvi-
ously the majority voted to express
their displeasure with them,” he
said.
The resolutions will allow the
county to aid undocumented resi-
dents with issues such as deporta-
tion, child custody and visas, among
others. The board, however, made
it clear it would not support any
instances of criminal activity.
Much of the opposition to the
resolutions came from individuals
who feared aiding undocumented
immigrants would lead to a decrease
in job availability. LaBarre, however,
discussed the decision in terms of
public health and how it would not
just benefit the immigrant commu-
nity, but all residents of Washtenaw
County.
“We’ve had a lot of folks yell at us,
‘Well you’re just helping a bunch of
illegals,’ “ he said. “However, if peo-
ple are here and have a public health
need but are afraid to get treatment
because they’re worried about get-
ting wrapped up in immigration
action, then it hurts them and the
general public, which is why this
isn’t some left-wing political action,
but instead a level-headed set of poli-
cies.”
LaBarre also spoke to the human
aspect of the immigration contro-
versy.
“What many people don’t realize
is that if you detain or deport a mem-
ber of a family who is here undocu-
mented then you tend to leave
behind family members — in many
cases citizens — who suddenly have
their world turned upside down and
may need services.”
Martinez-Kratz explained the
majority of residents in Washtenaw
County supported diversity and
wanted to help families who were
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Proposed legislation will require police to attain a warrant to conduct a breath
test on people under the age of 21.
facing adversity due to immigration
status. He also talked about his excite-
ment for the Barrier Busters program
specifically because of the services it
would provide each family.
Though the resolutions were con-
troversial, both LaBarre and Marti-
nez-Kratz believe they will help the
overall community, especially those
facing immigration challenges.
Washtenaw County isn’t the only
local community that has been try-
ing to find ways to aid the immigrant
community. At a Central Student
Government meeting in January,
the University of Michigan chapter
of BAMN — the Coalition to Defend
Affirmative Action, Integration and
Immigrant Rights and Fight for
Equality By Any Means Necessary
— called upon the assembly to pass
a resolution asking the White House
to protect undocumented students.
Art and Design senior Keysha
Wall, a member of BAMN, criticized
the outgoing presidential adminis-
tration for its inaction.
“The safety of these undocument-
ed immigrants is only promised
under the Obama administration,”
Wall said. “For Obama to know
these things, and not take every cau-
tionable step to ensure the contin-
ued safety of undocumented peoples
in this nation is disgusting and inhu-
mane. If he will not act on his own,
then we must take action, in doing so
set the example for him.”
Last December, CSG passed a sim-
ilar resolution — authored by former
CSG President David Schafer, former
CSG Vice President Micah Griggs and
former Chief of Staff Noah Betman,
all then LSA seniors. The resolution
was a joint-statement by members of
CSG expressing solidarity for undoc-
umented students and need for a con-
tinuation of the Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrival program, which
allows undocumented immigrants
to “apply for temporary deferrals of
deportations and (for) work permits.”
In late January, University Presi-
dent Mark Schlissel released a state-
ment
affirming
the
University’s
commitment to protecting inter-
national students and faculty — a
response to an executive order signed
by Trump that banned immigration
from several Muslim-majority coun-
tries.
The Ann Arbor community also
recently came together to aid a resi-
dent’s possible deportation.
LaBarre said although there
wasn’t always much local govern-
ments could do about issues of this
size, he was optimistic about the
resolutions.
“This issue has become so bas-
tardized and overheated, it’s sad,
and real human beings suffer when
that happens,” he said. “These reso-
lutions won’t fix many things, but for
a few lives in Washtenaw County, it
will have a major impact –– a good
one –– and a good overall impact on
the community.”
She
noted
the
regulations
designed in the lab have led
to
historical
environmental
innovations,
such
as
catalytic
converters, unleaded gasoline and
the use of computers on vehicles.
She went on to say the research and
studies conducted at the lab provide
background for establishing and
monitoring Corporate Average Fuel
Economy and emissions standards.
She said policymakers depend on
such work, as do consumers who are
protected by the regulations.
Dingell said she sent her letter
to Trump to make sure America
becomes aware of the “jewel”
located in the local EPA office.
“This is a national treasure in
Ann Arbor and we will not let them
destroy it,” she said.
Dingell noted the budget is
simply a proposal and Congress has
the final say in all such spending
matters. She asked attendees to
make sure their friends and family
around the country know how
important the work of the EPA and
laboratory is.
Ypsilanti resident Catherine Daligga
was among the rally-goers. She held a
sign that read “Humility.”
She noted the importance of science
and said climate change must be
addressed immediately.
“Science is about the quest for
truth and scientists are humble in
understanding it’s an ongoing quest,”
she said. “The answers are refined over
time, developed in peer review, and
without that commitment to an ever-
diligent pursuit of improved knowledge,
then we are lost. Climate change is real,
climate change is here, it’s affecting us
DINGELL
From Page 1
not be at stake if they are not driving.
“Beyond the current procedure
being
unconstitutional,
the
ramifications are not in accordance to
the crime,” she said.
Sullivan also said she understands
that this new tactic can be extremely
time consuming for officers; however,
she believes constitutional rights are
more important than convenience.
Under probable cause, the current
state law allows police officers to
request minors to administer to
a breath test if the police officer
believes the minor has consumed
alcoholic liquor or has any bodily
alcohol content. If a person refuses to
comply with a breath test, two points
are added to their driver’s license and
BREATH TEST
From Page 1
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Read more at MichiganDaily.com