3
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

Read more at MichiganDaily.com
Read more at MichiganDaily.com

