Steve Burns
WMAL.com
ROCKVILLE, Md. – (WMAL) It will likely be a lively debate Tuesday night as the Montgomery County Council opens the floor to the public to discuss its plan to use nearly $400,000 in taxpayer money to pay for legal assistance for people facing deportation.
The measure, included in the county’s FY 2019 budget, would enlist the help of the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition to provide attorneys. As immigration proceedings are civil cases, defendants are not afforded the right to legal counsel.
At the measure’s introduction last month, councilmembers praised it as a way for the county to reenforce its pro-diversity stances.
“By us leaving one person, who is an immigrant, up to, just, what the federal government and this administration may want to do, it’s not what we represent,” Councilmember Craig Rice said. “It’s not our values.”
Councilmember George Leventhal contended society gains nothing from removing illegal immigrants.
“The job of government is to look after people who are here, no matter how they got here,” Leventhal said. “We can’t get rid of them. It is impractical.”
The bill does carve out some exclusions. Immigrants convicted of violent crimes will not be eligible for assistance. Some councilmembers expressed a desire to adjust the list, following a letter from Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy, who pointed out crimes including domsetic abuse and handgun offenses were not included.
“These are going to be difficult conversations, but important conversations as to where we draw the line,” Councilmember Roger Berliner said.
The measure will see some opposition from groups like the Montgomery County Young Republicans. The group’s president, Dan McHugh, told WMAL it’s “business as usual” in Montgomery County.
“I don’t see how higher taxes, higher crime, and lower educational standards is progress or a positive impact on the county,” he said. “When you’re not a citizen, you’re not entitled to the rights and privileges that citizens are entitled to.”
The hearing is scheduled for 7:30pm Tuesday at the County Council building in Rockville.
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