Chicago’s city council voted Wednesday to welcome Syrian refugees to their city, passing a resolution that, while nonbinding, is meant to push back against the growing number of governors who have said they’ll try to refuse resettlement.
The resolution urged city agencies and local charities to work do as much as possible to help refugees. It passed by voice vote, the Chicago Tribune reported.
It was a slap at Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, a first-term Republican who has joined the chorus of governors who’ve said they’ll try to resist federal efforts to ship Syrian refugees to their states.
“We’re heartened to see Chicago’s city council stand up to the culture of hate that’s shown itself in recent days,” said Hatem Abudayyeh of the Arab American Action Network. “Our city is better when we stand together in welcome of those in need of help.”
Chicago, the home of President Obama, has enacted some of the country’s most liberal policies welcoming immigrants, including pioneering one of the most wide-ranging sanctuary city laws preventing local police from cooperation with federal immigration agents.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.