Britton passes resolution in support of refugees

In a meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners in September, 14th District Commissioner Scott Britton of Glenview introduced a resolution in support of refugees.

Co-sponsored by board President Toni Preckwinkle and commissioners Alma Anaya, Luis Arroyo, John Daley, Bridget Degnen, Brandon Johnson, Kevin Morrison and Larry Suffredin, the resolution was passed unanimously by the full board.

Britton's resolution was inspired by a letter drafted by the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), after the federal government in 2019 set a refugee admissions goal of 18,000, the lowest number of planned admissions in the history of the Refugee Admissions Program.

In 2019, nearly 2 million new asylum claims were made to the United States. The number of forcibly displaced individuals worldwide topped 79.5 million people this year.

Since 1975, Illinois has become home to 123,633 refugees from more than 50 countries through resettlement.

Showing bipartisan support, 540 local and state-elected officials from all 50 states and the District of Columbia signed on to IRAP's letter in support of resettling refugees in their communities.

"This is a testament to the compassion and sensibility of elected officials like Commissioner Britton who recognize that refugees deserve a safe place to call home, and that resettlement communities are stronger and more resilient for their presence," said Elizabeth Foydel, IRAP's deputy policy director.

The signed letter was sent to President Donald Trump and his administration on Sept. 17, and is available at welcomingrefugees2021.org for elected officials to sign on in support.