MOORHEAD, Minn. (KFGO) – The Clay County Commission has voted to continue accepting refugees. The resolution was made necessary by President Trump’s executive order that requires local consent before immigrants can be accepted.
Among those who spoke in favor of the resolution was Martha Castanon, who is with the Moorhead office of the Immigration Law Center of Minnesota.
“Many of these refugees are now voters, many of them are becoming future voters” Castanon said. “What many of my clients told me is that this area is a good place to live.”
Nicole Mattson of Moorhead told commissioners about last week’s vote in Bismarck, when the Burleigh County (North Dakota) Commission limited the number of refugees to 25.
“It makes me so happy that we don’t have the circus today that they had over there because we are willing to accept new members into our community” Mattson said.
“It does come with challenges” Commissioner Kevin Campbell said. “But fortunately, in our community, we work together. “I think it’s a proud day here in Clay County that we’re accepting people to come here and live.”
No one spoke in opposition to the resolution. The commission’s vote was unanimous.