HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2020.06.04 - 33301MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #20189
BY: Commissioners William Miller, District #14; Kristen Nelson, District #5; Penny Luebs, District #16;
Nancy Quarles, District #17; Robert Hoffman, District #2; Helaine Zack, District #18
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - RECOGNIZING THE GROWING DIVERSITY OF ITS
RESIDENTS AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS, AND ALL NEWCOMERS
ENHANCE THE CULTURE AND THE ECONOMY BY DECLARING JUNE 20, 2020 AS WORLD
REFUGEE DAY IN OAKLAND COUNTY
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS more than 70 million displaced people have been forced from their homes, more than any time
in recorded history, including over 25 million refugees; and
WHEREAS by definition, refugees are people who have fled their country because they have a well-founded
fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular
social group; and
WHEREAS to be considered for resettlement, a refugee must first receive a refugee status determination
by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) by proving they are fleeing persecution based on their
ethnicity, nationality, religion, political opinion, or social group. UNHCR then refers refugees to one of 37
resettlement countries, one of which is the United States; and
WHEREAS since the creation of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, the United States has set an
average admissions goal of 95,000 annually.
WHEREAS however, in 2018, the United States resettled less than half of the then -historic low refugee
admissions goal of 45,000. In 2019, only 30,000 refugees were resettled; and
WHEREAS this year, due to an even lower resettlement ceiling -- 18,000 -- and a temporary halt to the
resettlement program due to travel restrictions under COVID-19, only 7,450 refugees have been resettled
in the United States so far; and
WHEREAS resettlement provides safe haven in a third country when refugees cannot return home and
cannot rebuild their lives in the country where they first fled due to lack of access to safety, shelter, health
care, education, or protection.
WHEREAS unfortunately, refugee resettlement is a lifesaving program available only to less than 1% of
refugees; and
WHEREAS resettlement to the U.S. is available only for those who demonstrate the greatest and most
immediate need for protection — such as unaccompanied and other at -risk children, female -headed
households, victims of torture, the physically disabled, and members of minority groups that are
experiencing oppression in the host country (for example, religious minorities or LGBTI individuals) — and
takes place after eligible refugees undergo a rigorous selection, security vetting, and medical screening
process, and
WHEREAS Oakland County is home to a diverse population of refugees and immigrants, adding to the
economic strength and cultural richness of our community; and
WHEREAS organizations responsible for resettling refugees in our community, as well as numerous other
community organizations and religious institutions, have declared their support for resettling refugees in
Oakland County, and
WHEREAS Oakland County has been an example of a hospitable and welcoming place to all newcomers,
where the contributions of all are celebrated and valued; and
WHEREAS cities across the United States have declared themselves to be welcoming to refugees and
immigrants, joining a national movement for creating an inclusive community; and
WHEREAS residents of Oakland County aspire to live up to our highest societal values of acceptance and
equality, and treat newcomers with decency and respect, creating a vibrant community for all to live in.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners is hereby
recognizing the growing diversity of its residents and acknowledges that refugees, immigrants, and all
newcomers enhance the culture and the economy by declaring June 20, 2020 as World Refugee Day.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners affirms the beauty and
richness of our diversity, and one in which all are welcome, accepted, and appreciated.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby urges other local
and state communities to join us in a stronger national effort to resettle the most vulnerable refugees
worldwide and help them integrate and thrive.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution. REQUESTING SUSPENSION
OF THE BOARD RULES FOR
IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION
UNDER NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner William Miller Commissioner Kristen Nelson
Dicinct#14 � Di ti t#5
U.t-e-f7 S- L�
Commi i ner Penny Luebs Commission ancy Quarles
Dis 16
District#117
CommissionerRobe Hoffman Commissioner Helaineok
District #2 District #18
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Resolution #20189
June 4, 2020
Moved by Miller seconded by Powell to suspend the rules and vote on Miscellaneous Resolution #20189
— Board of Commissioners — Recognizing the Growing Diversity of its Residents and Acknowledges that
Refugees, Immigrants and All Newcomers Enhance the Culture and the Economy by Declaring June 20,
2020 as World Refugee Day in Oakland County.
Vote on suspension:
AYES: McGillivray, Middleton, Miller, Nelson, Powell, Quarles Spisz, Weipert, Woodward, Zack,
Gershenson, Hoffman, Jackson, Kochenderfer, Kowall, Long, Luebs, Markham. (18)
NAYS: Taub, Kuhn. (2)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the motion to suspend the rules and vote on Miscellaneous
Resolution #20189 — Board of Commissioners — Recognizing the Growing Diversity of its Residents and
Acknowledges that Refugees, Immigrants and All Newcomers Enhance the Culture and the Economy by
Declaring June 20, 2020 as World Refugee Day in Oakland County carried.
Moved by Taub seconded by Middleton the resolution be amended as follows:
Replace the word "immigrant" with the phrase "legal immigrant' throughout the resolution.
Discussion followed.
Vote on amendment:
AYES: Middleton, Spisz, Taub, Hoffman, Kochenderfer, Kowall, Kuhn, Long. (8)
NAYS: Miller, Nelson, Powell, Quarles, Woodward, Zack, Gershenson, Jackson, Luebs,
Markham, McGillivray. (11)
A sufficient majority not having voted in favor, the amendment failed.
Discussion followed.
Moved by Miller seconded by Taub the resolution be adopted, as presented.
Vote on resolution, as presented:
AYES: Miller, Nelson, Powell, Quarles, Spisz, Woodward, Zack, Gershenson, Hoffman, Jackson,
Kochenderfer, Kuhn, Long, Luebs, Markham, McGillivray, Middleton. (17)
NAYS: Taub, Kowall. (2)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolution, as presented, was adopted.
-� STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on June 4, 2020,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan this 4th day of June, 2020.
Lisa Brown, Oakland County