ATHENS, Ala. — "Every citizen has a right to ask questions about government, but some of the conversation around this issue on social media has involved wild allegations and rhetoric. City leaders are happy to provide information and answers where they can, but the City – and state and federal law – condemn any narrative that seeks to discriminate against people based on their race or nationality."
This comes from a statement from the city of Athens in response to some residents taking to social media and city council meetings to express their thoughts on the recent arrival of immigrants from Haiti in North Alabama.
City officials say that federal officials have told them that that there are new immigrants from Haiti with federal work permits in the area, and they are here working legally in Alabama. Businesses in North Alabama have hired them and, in some cases, have hired buses to take them to work sites.
The City of Athens released the following statement:
"The Athens Police Department and the Mayor’s Office have received questions regarding a recent increase of Haitian migrants in Athens and Limestone County.
"Some folks have expressed concerns about the impact that this has on city services, including our school system. While this City is a welcoming place to all persons, any influx of newcomers can pose challenges to the delivery of local services. At this point, the City understands that the number of new enrollments in the school system is minimal, and there has not been a noticeable increase in the municipal court docket. Nonetheless, city officials have reached out to state and federal officials, including the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, about this matter.
"Federal officials have advised that there are new immigrants from Haiti with federal work permits in the area, and they are here working legally in Alabama. Federal officials have not provided any numbers to the city. Local media reports indicate that there are multiple businesses in the North Alabama area that are in need of workers and hired many of these immigrants. Some of these businesses – outside of Athens - have hired buses to transport them to work.
"Some folks have also raised questions about what involvement, if any, the City or its public officials have with respect to this increase in people. The answer is “none at all”. Neither the City of Athens, nor any of its city officials, receive any federal funding or private funding relating to housing for migrants with work permits, nor does the city participate in any federal program or private program that provides aid or housing to such workers. The City does not have any plans to do any of that.
"As everyone knows, the federal government has assumed control of all immigration matters, including who receives a federal work permit. City and local governments, like the Athens City Council and the Limestone County Commission, aren’t allowed to have any control over those issues, even when federal immigration policy has negative impacts on the local level. What the City and Police Department can do – and will continue to do – is to work to ensure that all folks in our community – including newcomers - obey the laws of the land. This city is not a “sanctuary city” and its police department works closely with ICE. Every citizen has a right to ask questions about government, but some of the conversation around this issue on social media has involved wild allegations and rhetoric.
"City leaders are happy to provide information and answers where they can, but the City – and state and federal law – condemn any narrative that seeks to discriminate against people based on their race or nationality. As to concerns about the impact on local services posed by immigration issues, the City of Athens joins those who call on the federal government – who has reserved the power over immigration to itself – to reform the national immigration system and ease the burden on local communities. The City encourages citizens who are concerned about national immigration policy to join the City in reaching out to their local US congressmen and senators about this issue."
