Board votes on immimgrant privacy

June 6, 2007
By Jonathan Lipman Staff writer
A month after rejecting an identical proposal, the Cook County Board on Tuesday voted to forbid county police or health workers from asking about a person's immigration status.

"This resolution simply calls for employees not to discriminate," said Commissioner Roberto Maldonado (D-Chicago), who has pushed the bill for years. "We can legislate behavior."

The bill -- similar to one that passed the Chicago City Council last year -- prohibits county sheriff's police and other officials from investigating anyone's immigration status unless it is connected to criminal wrongdoing. County services cannot be withheld based on immigration status.
The measure, which failed on a tie vote last month, won passage on a 7-to-6 vote when Commissioner Robert Steele (D-Chicago) switched his vote and with the absence of Commissioner Elizabeth Doody Gorman (R-Orland Park).

Steele said he changed his mind after considering his ancestors were immigrants from Africa and Haiti. Republican Tony Peraica supported the measure last time but abstained Tuesday.

Despite Maldonado's years of lobbying, the issue might not be dead. Commissioner Gregg Goslin (R-Glenview) switched his vote to "yes" after the measure passed. The move gives Goslin the right to bring up the issue for reconsideration at the next meeting, when Gorman is present.

Goslin thinks the measure will encourage illegal immigrants to flood county health facilities.

"I don't know what I'm going to do -- I wanted to keep the options open," Goslin said. "The county health bureau is on its last gasp. This will put it out of business."
Also Tuesday, a symbolic proposal from Peraica to express "no confidence" in board President Todd Stroger died on the floor when no one would second it.

Jonathan Lipman may be reached at
jlipman@dailysouthtown.com
or (312) 782-1286.

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