‘Tensions’ threaten the future of Bellingham City Council’s Immigration Advisory Board
Bellingham City Council members discussed suspending the Immigration Advisory Board indefinitely on Tuesday, citing apparent friction among the panel’s appointed members.
No action was taken Tuesday, which was the panel’s first meeting with newly elected Councilmember Jace Cotton and Mayor Kim Lund in attendance. Council members said they would like to attend the Immigration Board’s next meeting on Jan. 16 as spectators and reconsider an ordinance to pause board meetings when the council meets Jan. 29.
Councilwoman Hannah Stone, an immigration lawyer who proposed creating the board in 2019, cited “tensions” within the group’s membership and asked for a reboot.
“I don’t need to rehash what got us where we are. But something has to change in order for us to move forward,” Stone told the City Council at a special meeting Tuesday afternoon.
She didn’t provide details of specific divisions or friction among Immigration Advisory Board members.
“I don’t want this to turn in to finger pointing. There’s responsibility that’s shared. I feel like we need a hard pause to reset and make sure that we are aligned in the scope of this work,” Stone said.
In an interview before Tuesday’s City Council meeting, board member Homero Jose Garrido told The Bellingham Herald that the move to suspend the board’s meetings was unexpected.
“It’s surprising that they’re pausing because there’s so much to do,” Garrido said.
Bellingham’s Immigration Advisory Board was formed in 2019 by the council “to review and evaluate existing policies and make specific recommendations to the mayor and City Council regarding city policy related to immigration matters,” according to the city’s website.
Its current efforts have been directed toward planning for an immigrant resource center.
Members are appointed by the mayor. The 12-member board has four vacancies.
This story was originally published January 3, 2024 at 12:00 PM.
