Sep 14, 2006 9:01 am US/Central
Plan Afoot To Make Cook County Immigrant Sanctuary
Roberto Maldonado Wants To Ban County From Asking About Immigration Status
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
A plan is in the works to make
Cook County a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants.
County Commissioner
Roberto Maldonado (D-8th) wants to ban county agencies from asking someone of his or her immigration status, denying services, or enforcing federal immigration laws.
The measure stems from the case of Elvira Arellano, who has been holed up in a Humboldt Park neighborhood church since last month to avoid deportation. Arellano's son, who is in the church with her, is an American citizen.
In announcing the measure on Aug. 23, Maldonado said he wants commissioners to declare that Cook County officially values and respects immigrants and welcomes their relocation and settlement here.
"We know that it doesn't have legalty [stet], but it has moral value that we want to convey that message," Maldonado said.
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