The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
2 ICE measures stall
Resolutions ‘postponed indefinitely’ by county commissioners during regular meeting
Motions to adopt two resolutions regarding the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency were “postponed indefinitely” during the Lake County commissioners’ Aug. 16 regular meeting.
The resolutions, one in support of ICE and the other urging Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform legislation, were originally proposed Aug. 2, when they were ultimately tabled until the Aug. 16 meeting.
Commissioner Dan Troy moved to postpone both resolutions. Commissioner John Hamercheck also voted to do the same shortly thereafter.
“These resolutions have put a light on an
issue that allows us to see the elephant in the room,” Hamercheck said. “You cannot have a conversation if you don’t begin the conversation. Lake County is fortunate to have an organization that is actually called Begin the Conversation, that is designed to manage situations, to have race relations, and we are currently working on what I think is a reasonable sister issue that I also believe has to be talked about.
“I would say this is a tremendous opportunity we have before us. Lake County is what’s commonly called a bellwether county — as Lake County goes, so goes the nation. That also means we’re extremely well-positioned to come up with solutions that will work here,
that will work elsewhere in the nation. We have the opportunity to do good here in Lake County, and we’re doing it, a few bumps here and there. Let’s not squander that. When people stop talking it puts us at a perpetual distance. We are here to serve the people — all people.”
Commissioner Jerry Cirino, who proposed the resolution expressing support for the federal agency, shook his head in disappointment when the motion to postpone indefinitely was passed.
Neither resolution would establish any legally enforceable requirements, had they been adopted.
“In my view, there are no economic justifications for blatantly breaking the law,” Cirino said. “It would probably be good for all of us, probably in this room, if the IRS didn’t enforce its laws. There are no justifications,
economically, for supporting illegal entry.”
As it stands, both resolutions remain “off the agenda,” the commissioners’ confirmed.
During the public comment portions that open and close every regular meeting, residents expressed their opposition and support for the measures for over an hour total, similar to the Aug. 2 meeting.
Troy said he respects the very strong opinions on both sides of the issue.
“I think that’s what America is all about, but we need to agree to disagree, and we need to do so civilly,” he said. “We need to get away from derogatory and negative comments. We’ve seen that happen in Washington now. And as I’ve said on some occasions, I get a little tired of how we are using some of these very divisive issues as political wedges to basically pit one group of people against another group of people.
“Postponing these resolutions, we’ve achieved bipartisan cooperation.”
Cirino, while applauded by several for his backing of ICE, which he called a “law enforcement issue, not an immigration policy issue,” asked Hamercheck for a point of clarification after a resident, calling for his resignation, said his usage
of social media supporting the federal agency was akin to “a modern-day Nazi propaganda machine,” which brought about audible reactions from attendees.
“Just so I have it straight for the record, you are referring to me as a racist and a Nazi?” Cirino asked Morgan Manning.
“Yes,” Manning answered.
Later, Cirino said he took umbrage with the fact Hamercheck and Troy remained silent during Manning’s statement.
“I’m very disappointed my fellow commissioners got lockjaw and didn’t object to her comments after the young lady called me a racist and a Nazi. That’s a bit more than a ‘bump.’
“But this remains an issue of law,” Cirino added. “I support law enforcement. All three of us commissioners have sworn an oath to support the laws and the Constitution of the state of Ohio and the United States of America. That’s all this resolution was looking to support. Does that mean ICE does everything perfectly? No agency in the government does things perfectly.
“I believe there is adequate reason to move forward and to take this issue off the table, and exercise our leadership and get this issue behind us.”