KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners has voted in favor of a resolution to allow refugee resettlement in Kalamazoo County.
Earlier this year, President Trump issued an executive order to have both local and state government entities that are willing and able to accept refugees into their communities do so. A deadline for doing so was set for Christmas.
Commissioner Quinn presented the resolution to the board.
“The world is currently facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in human history,” Quinn read.
Quinn noted that, although Portage and Michigan state government had agreed to the resettlement plan, the County government still needed to sign off on the resolution.
Other cities in the county would have to individually sign off to be a resettlement city.
The Board of Commissioners ultimately voted unanimously in passing the resolution.
“I would be remiss not to remind us all that we are a welcoming county, and this is the right thing to do, to vote ‘yes,’” Vice Chair Tracy Hall said.
The Board will now forward the resolution to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as well as other State Representatives.