ST CHARLES, Mo. — A St. Charles County resolution opposed to Latino immigrants coming to the region was tabled by the St. Charles County Council on Monday.
The St Charles County Council was originally going to vote on this measure on Monday, but one of the sponsors, County Councilman Joe Brazil, pulled it off the table at the last second because two of the resolution’s sponsors weren’t there and some of the others on the council don’t support it, at least in its current form.
Resolution 2308 says, “The St Charles County Council strongly opposes the importation of illegal immigrants into the region.”
It points to a federal program allowing people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to come to the United States.
“The attorney general of Missouri filed a lawsuit on this particular program along with 19 other states, so there’s 20 lawsuits going right now with this particular program,” Brazil said.
Earlier parts of the legislation specifically call out the International Institute’s new program, the Latino Outreach Initiative, which would support the federal program.
International Institute CEO Arrey Obenson said the program only sponsors immigrants and refugees who have come to the U.S. legally.
“They have authorization to work in the United States for a two-year period,” Obenson said.
Obenson said they want to send the right message to draw people to the St. Louis region.
“Our mission is to create opportunities for immigrants and refugees to thrive in order to create a more welcoming, more prosperous and healthy region for all,” Obenson said.
The Chairman of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Jose Ponce said he believes the legislation sponsors just don’t understand what the IISL is trying to do.
“There's a law already that's passed and proven, a program, and has individuals that have the capability to come in and gain gainful employment or perhaps be a business owner in the future, this is a benefit for our community in general,” Ponce said.
Some of the council members said they didn’t even know about the resolution until the agenda was posted on the website a few days ago.
“I don’t think this resolution accomplishes anything positive. I don’t see its purpose. The county council has no control over these matters,” St. Charles County Councilwoman Nancy Schneider said.
Brazil said he plans to propose the resolution again when the other sponsors can attend.
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