St. Charles County bill against welcoming immigrants fails to pass

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – A packed house in St. Charles Monday night for a vote on a controversial immigration resolution. It calls on St. Louis City not to welcome immigrants currently living in Chicago.

The resolution failed in a 3-3 vote by the St. Charles County Council. The bill’s sponsors claimed it was simply a statement against illegal immigration. But opponents to the measure said it was much more than that.

In September, the International Institute of St. Louis announced a plan to relocate immigrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti currently in Chicago to St. Louis. They came to the US through the Biden administration’s Humanitarian Parole Program… which allows 30,000 migrants into the U.S. every month. 21 Republican-led states – including Missouri, are challenging the program in federal court.

St. Charles County Councilman Joe Brazil recently co-sponsored a resolution opposing the program, calling the people “illegal migrants.” That term upset some people.

“It’s just that we’re making a legal statement, that we don’t feel this is a legal process,” said Councilman Joe Brazil.

Brazil tweaked the resolution this time around to specifically criticize the Biden administration’s program. He argues the city isn’t prepared to help these migrants, and that St. Charles may end up having to pick up the slack.

“What often happens when they go to St. Louis is, even the immigrants feel like there’s a lot of crime there. And we’re told a lot of them come to St. Charles,” said Councilman Joe Brazil.

Despite the tweaks, Councilwoman Nancy Schneider still voted against the measure.

“I thought, ‘why do we need to do this?’ it’s nothing,” said Councilwoman Nancy Schneider.

Schneider says she thinks it sends the wrong message and puts St. Charles in a bad light.

“I grew up in St. Charles; I’ve been here my whole life. I think we should welcome people who are here for the right reasons, who are here legally, who want to be a part of our community and who want to contribute to it,” said Councilwoman Nancy Schneider.

Brazil says they aren’t anti-immigrant. They just don’t like this particular plan.

“People are welcome in St. Charles. It even says in the resolution, if you come through the process and follow the immigration laws—the federal and state laws—we’ll welcome you with open arms. But not through an illegal process,” said Councilman Joe Brazil.

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