Residents of Sylacauga, Alabama, were recently forced out of their homes. City Council Meeting after several people asked about the growing number of illegal immigrants resettling in the area.
About 20 minutes into last week's meeting, Sylacauga City Council President Tiffany Nix called for an end to the meeting after three local residents expressed concerns about Haitian nationals moving to the city.
“You're treating them like they're legal U.S. citizens, and they're not.”
“I want to know how the vetting process was carried out,” the first resident asked.
“Have they all been background checked? Where are they?,” she continued. “They say they have work visas, but if you look at the work visas, you'll see that the companies they work for don't have work visas. This is not a factory.”
“Who is monitoring and directing this situation? What information can you provide about this situation? I'm just concerned,” she added.
Nix responded that “unfortunately” the city council did not have any information to provide residents about newcomers.
“We don't have any information about that,” Nix said, “we just know that they're here legally.”
City Councilman Ashton Fowler also joined the conversation, telling residents, “This is not within our jurisdiction. We found out when everyone else found out.”
Fowler said he has met Haitian nationals when some of them began attending his church.
“The people that I go to church with are great,” he said, “and that's the only interaction I've had with them. I know there are more people in this town than that.”
“We're just as unaware as you are of how they got here and what they're doing. That's pretty high up,” Fowler told residents.
Nix argued there is “no reason” for the City Council to investigate the situation because “no crime was committed.”
Heath councillor Laura Barlow told concerned local residents she would be reaching out to state and federal leaders for more information.
A second resident questioned city council members why they had no information that migrants were being brought to the area by bus.
“Like you, we're seeing it on Facebook, we're seeing it on social media. We don't know anything,” Nix responded.
Residents questioned why councillors had not contacted anyone to gather information about bus services.
“With all due respect, did anybody see anybody being brought here on a bus?” Nix asked. “That's hearsay. But the problem is, people are posting information on social media and saying things they don't know anything about. Nobody saw that happen.”
The resident responded: “But I've also seen where they live. They just sit outside, they don't work.”
“But what's wrong with that?” Nix asked.
“They were there for work,” the resident replied.
One city council member argued that the foreigners could be working the night shift somewhere.
“I hadn't intended to comment on this, but I feel I need to comment, so I am,” Nix said. “I want to welcome anyone who wants to come to Sylacauga.”
“I agree. If people aren't breaking the law, they're not causing any problems, so I don't see what the problem is,” she added.
Later during the meeting, a third resident, David Phillips, began to bring up the issue of immigration again but didn't continue until Nicks interrupted him.
“The council's behavior throughout this entire process has been completely unacceptable,” he said. “You're treating these people like they're legal U.S. citizens, and they're not.”
“I'm done,” Nix countered, ending the meeting. “There is no reason to investigate or discriminate against people because of their appearance. There is no reason for that.”
Phillips responded, “Who told you that?”
Barlow Heath told Nicks that residents had expressed “legitimate concerns.”
“Laura, why are those valid concerns?” Nyx asked.
“This is now concluded,” Nix announced. “The meeting is now over and I ask that you all leave.”
In an interview Fox News DigitalPhillips said he was “a little shocked” the city council ended the meeting.
“I've seen crazy things at city councils in the past, and it was awful for them,” he told the news outlet. “In this country, [have] … Fundamental freedom of speech. … That's the whole point of public comment. That's what's built into the conference. That's why we have a podium with a microphone so people can ask questions. And she's ruined all that.”
Nix did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
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