Politics & Government
Illegal Immigration a Hot Topic at Acton Town Meeting
Here are three videos pertaining to Article 22.
One of the more heated topics discussed on the second day of Town Meeting, Tuesday, April 5, was whether or not non-documented residents (illegal immigrants) should be allowed to receive publicly funded state benefits. Article 22 - a resolution requesting legislative action regarding publicly funded state services, was presented by David Stone, Republican Town Committee Chairman.
According to the Article-summary, “the resolution is intended as a statement of principle, not the text of a bill.” Stone presented the non-binding resolution and stated it was important to send a message to state representatives that illegal residents should not receive state benefits.
“Only the federal government can make legal immigration easier, but at the state level we have the power to make staying here illegally more difficult and less rewarding,” said Stone.
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The majority of Acton voters in attendance did not approve of Article 22, nor did the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee.
“We need a national comprehensive policy, not an Acton policy,” said Selectman Pamela Harting-Barrat. “This article is redundant – we have state and federal laws that deny people that do not have proper citizenship the right to have housing and medical care. It is hardly enforceable on a local level and burdensome on local officials and I personably think it is rather hateful.”
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Acton resident in attendance, Nick Muller of Taylor Road, said he was disappointed to see this Article in question at Town Meeting.
“I come here to do the Town's business and to think about the Town's problems and this is an extremely complex issue and as we are beginning to see, there are strong opinions on both sides,” said Muller. To me, this is not the forum for these kind of discussions…”
Attached to this article are three separate videos pertaining to this event.
The first is David Stone presenting Article 22.
The second is the response from both Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee.
The third is response from meeting participants.