Suffolk Legislature introduces motion to hire special counsel in effort to block migrants from entering county
Some residents called the possibility of migrants coming to Suffolk County as a chance "to create a more diverse and welcoming community."
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The Suffolk Legislature introduced a motion Tuesday to hire a special counsel to explore legal options to block migrants from coming to the county.
Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffery, a Republican, says they are trying to provide public safety for the residents of the county.
However, pro-migrant demonstrators and children of immigrants like Ken Colon, say they were rallying against Republican-led effort in the Legislature to deny asylum seekers basic human rights.
"You come to this country, build a life for yourself, for your family and pass that on to the next generation," Colon, of Brentwood says. "That's what the Republican majority of the Suffolk County Legislature wants to take from us."
The legislative meeting Tuesday brought dozens of residents from both side sides of the political spectrum out.
While some called the possibility of migrants coming to Suffolk County as a chance "to create a more diverse and welcoming community," others said the migrants should be vetted.
"It's an invasion of communities of resource we don't have," one person said at the meeting. "We have to build resources for these people to even get in here - we worked too hard for our American dream."
The Legislature heard all the comments and concerns. They are expected to vote on the motion of hiring a special counsel during their next meeting on June 6.
