HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2019.04.18 - 31311WHEREAS by June of 2017 the United States government had targeted over 1,400 Iraqi people with plans
to deport these individuals back to their country if not for a temporary restraining order in the U.S. District
Court, blocking the removal of the Iraqi nationals and Chaldean Christians, and
WHEREAS Chaldean Christians and Americanized Iraqi nationals face active persecution in Iraq, and they
will likely be subject to discrimination, violence, and possibly torture or death if deported; and
WHEREAS recognizing the grave danger these individuals face if deported back to their country, the U.S.
District Court ordered a temporary stay of removal in 2017. The stay of removal was reversed in December
2018, and an estimated 1,000 individuals are now at immediate risk of deportation with many more in future
WHEREAS according to the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, more than
10,000 Iraqi refugees have settled in Oakland County since 2009; and
WHEREAS Oakland County State Senators Jim Runestad (R -White Lake) and Senator Rosemary Bayer
(D -Beverly Hills) have introduced Michigan Senate Resolution No. 31, which states "Iraqi nationals
complement our American society with a proven history of contributing to the economic and social well-
being of this nation. Metro Detroit has the largest concentration of Chaldeans outside of Iraq, a population
of business owners, employees, and families that is indispensable to the local economy. They have lived
legally in the U.S. for decades and know no home except for America" and that "we oppose the mass
deportation of Iraqi nationals residing in Michigan and the United States", and
WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners acknowledges the contributing factor these
individuals have on the economic and social well-being of Oakland County, and recognizes these
individuals are indispensable to the local communities and economy.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby opposes
the policies of the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the mass
deportation of Iraqi nationals and Chaldean Christians residing in Oakland County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward
copies of this adopted resolution to the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Acting Director of the U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Governor of the State of Michigan, the Michigan Attorney
General, the members of the Oakland County congressional delegation, and the Oakland County members
of the Michigan Legislature.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
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Resolution #19104
April 18, 2019
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Legislative Affairs and Government Operations Committee.
There were no objections.