KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM)– Fear and concern has been growing in the Kalamazoo community about immigration rights following the election of Donald Trump. Tuesday night a Community Forum on the issue drew an over capacity audience to a meeting downtown, forcing library staff to turn some people away.
Shadia Kanaan with the Kalamazoo Commission for Peace and Justice wanted to assure them that they will continue to have community support and resources.
Sheriff Rick Fuller wanted to assure all immigrants that they should not be afraid to call for help if they need it either. They say they are in the crime fighting business and not in the business of checking the citizenship of victims.
Other community leaders like Vice-Mayor Don Cooney were critical of federal efforts to divide families and deport productive citizens.
Kalamazoo County and the City have both approved resolutions declaring that they are “Welcoming Communities”. A number of Syrian refugee families have moved into the community with the support of local church organizations.
