At their Monday, April 29, 2024, board meeting, Weld County Commissioners approved, by a 5-0 vote, the first reading of a code ordinance aimed at countering misinformation and allegations of misuse of county taxpayer dollars for illegal immigrants.
County Attorney Bruce Barker read into the record a draft of code ordinance 2024-05, which repeals and reenacts, with amendments, Chapter 5 Revenue and Finance, of the Weld County Code.
“There have been a lot of conversations in the community, as well as nationally, about the impact illegal immigration is having on local government,” said Commissioner Chair Kevin Ross. “Information found on websites or comments made by individuals in the community have led to confusion and concern, understandably. Our hope, as a board, is that this ordinance will bring clarity and confidence that Weld County is neither a sanctuary county for illegal immigrants nor is county government misusing taxpayer funds in relation to illegal immigration.”
Specific to this ordinance is adding a section (Section 5-1-70), which states: The Board of County Commissioners shall not appropriate monies from the General Fund, Capital Expenditure Fund, special revenue funds or proprietary funds for the specified purpose of providing emergency sheltering of illegal aliens within Weld County. ”Emergency sheltering of illegal aliens” includes the provision of housing, transportation or meals for the benefit of persons who DO NOT have “lawfully present in the United States” immigration status.
Two other public readings of the ordinance will take place prior to the formal board vote and adoption.
Members of the public who wish to provide comment on the ordinance change can do so a variety of ways, including:
- During public comment at any regularly scheduled county commissioner meeting (Monday and Wednesday at 9 a.m. at 1150 O St., Greeley.
- During the second and third reading of the proposed ordinance change during the regularly scheduled county commissioner meeting (May 20 and June 10 respectively).
- Via email at publiccomment@weld.gov or ctb@weld.gov.
- Via mail sent to the Weld County Clerk to the Board, P.O. Box 758, 1150 O Street, Greeley, CO 80632.
Scott—-I was invited to a luncheon put on by Habitat for Humanity, regarding ‘Building Bridges’ with the immigrant community, and I sat next to Perry.
It was my understanding there would be discussion and diversity of opinion would be encouraged. Not So! It was only an opportunity to introduce those employed to interact with immigrants, which included the complex network of financial support available, and more that is needed. There was no discussion of the financial burden to government, medical services, schools, law enforcement or the rest.
I did research which shows the dishonesty of the federal government which includes how they are, or will be, circumventing the ordinance you are proposing. I would like to forward my notes to you, and comment further.
(I didn’t realize there was room to ‘Leave a Comment’ after ‘Add a Comment’. So, I will continue.)
The DHS has strayed from the dictionary definition of ‘refugee’. The DHS definition includes—anyone who belongs to a ‘certain social group’, or because of their ‘political opinions’, or believe they ‘could be persecuted’.
DHS declares nearly all immigrants are ‘refugees’. Then it becomes a tool for domestic support of churches and bleeding hearts. DHS and the State Department are also funding HIAS which provides ‘pro bono legal services which, I believe, includes tutoring to pass the ‘credible fear interview’ Also, oral testimony no long requires a burden of proof and the interviewer arbitrarily decides it is probably true. The questions, when applicable, have been reduced from 40 to 5. And anyone who fails the test can appeal. And there is more.
Kindly forward your notes to scott@jamesforweld.com. I’ll take a look. At first glance, every action of the federal government seems to be geared toward swamping the system. We will continue to do what we can in Weld County.