EUREKA, Ill. – The Public Safety committee of the Woodford County Board has approved a resolution that once again asks the county what it will do with migrants sent from the US-Mexico border if they find their way here.
The full board tabled a similar question in April. The committee’s vote is not the final word on the resolution, according to 25 News, the board must vote on it again Tuesday, May 21.
The resolution declared no county taxpayer dollars would fund services for migrants if they were to arrive in Woodford, except in the case of emergencies.
“[Woodford County] pledges and rededicates its limited resources to its residents in need and will not accept or provide taxpayer-funded services, other than emergency services, to illegal immigrants and/or asylum seekers as a result of the immigration crisis,” the resolution read.
The resolution also states the public faces a significant health and safety risk to the public in the form of disease and crime, which is not supported by research.
One person spoke out against the resolution during public comment.
Larry Stine, who is running for a Woodford County Board seat as a Democrat, said the resolution would create “a new group of segregated people,” and instead called on the board to make any migrants who wind up in Woodford friends to the area and not enemies.
The committee also discussed an emergency action plan in the event migrants make their way from Chicago to Central Illinois. The Woodford County State’s Attorney has not yet reviewed the plan.
The plan did not go to a vote and will not go before the Woodford County board on May 21.
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