County Board Committee Asks Full Board to Act on "Uncoordinated Stops" by Buses in County

Members of the Effingham County Board's Legislative Committee Monday said the county is not a "landing zone" for buses full of illegal aliens, and endorsed steps to move the aliens on to Chicago.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has indicated that Chicago is a sanctuary city. The resolution approved in committee indicates if "uncoordinated stops" by buses carrying illegal aiens occur in Effingham County, the County will take steps to move the buses on out of the county.

County Board Chairman Josh Douthit said that "absent an emergency" the illegal aliens will stay on the bus and the appropriate agency will be contacted. Douthit said that "if it's a carload of individuals, that's not so much of an emergency" but added that "it's important to lead from the front" on the issue.

County Board Member Norbert Soltwedel said, "It's not that we don't like these people, it's that we don't have the resources to help them."

As to the incorporated parts of the county, such as the cities and the villages, State's Attorney Aaron Jones said, "they need to carry out their own procedures. We are trying to comply with the direction we're getting from the various agencies."

The Legislative Committee meets as a committee of the whole of the County Board and a voice vote on the matter indicated all nine members voted in favor of the resolution.