ANN ARBOR, MI - Washtenaw County is sending a strong message to all immigrants to let them know they're welcome here.

And they're putting money behind that message.

The County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday night, May 17, to give final approval to three resolutions that lay out new county policies related to immigration matters and dedicate taxpayer funds to help immigrants, including those targeted for deportation by the federal government.

Regardless of citizenship or immigration status, county officials say, everyone should feel comfortable making contact with county government, including the Sheriff's Office, whether that's to report crimes or access services.

And for those who want help on the path to citizenship or need other forms of aid, including emergency assistance or legal aid for those affected by federal immigration enforcement actions, the county is vowing to help.

The resolutions were approved 6-1 with Ruth Ann Jamnick, D-Ypsilanti Township, opposed and Jason Morgan, D-Ann Arbor, and Alicia Ping, R-Saline, absent.

The resolution allocating funds has been particularly controversial. County officials have heard mixed feedback from residents and other local officials.

"Any representative who places the interests of illegal aliens above the law and above the citizens of this country needs to resign or be recalled or removed from public service," Northfield Township Trustee Tawn Beliger argued recently.

The now-approved resolution appropriates $145,000 to help immigrants and others, including $70,000 through through the Barrier Busters emergency assistance program and $75,000 through the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.

The county is going to contract with MIRC to have an attorney dedicated to helping immigrants and their families in Washtenaw County.

Washtenaw County officials say the county will do what it can to help immigrants, but what's really needed is federal immigration reform.

MIRC is expected to provide community-based trainings and coordinate and provide legal services for individuals and families for immigration-related issues, including but not limited to child custody, power of attorney, visas, citizenship or legal resident applications, and detention and deportation actions.

Of the extra $70,000 going to the Barrier Busters program through the county's Office of Community and Economic Development, at least $25,000 is earmarked specifically to help immigrant families. The rest could help both immigrants and other county residents who qualify. The money is intended to provide emergency financial support to low-income families, including support for housing, utilities, transportation, child care, psychological services and food assistance.

The OCED also is expected to coordinate with organizations that primarily serve and work with immigrants to ensure the funds are available to those affected by immigration enforcement, both directly and indirectly.

The resolution states the county is "a welcoming community that respects the innate dignity of all people" and voices support for participating in the national Welcoming America initiative that works to promote mutual respect and cooperation between foreign-born and native-born Americans.

It directs the county administrator to complete the application process, including a $200 membership fee. County officials previously indicated there could be roughly $10,000 in costs associated with the Welcoming America efforts, but that's expected to be handled within the OCED's existing budget.

One of the resolutions approved reiterates the county's support for the immigrant community and urges Congress to adopt immigration reform legislation that restricts deportation actions to individuals charged with aggravated felonies. It also calls on Congress to create clear and reasonable immigration sanctions short of deportation for non-citizens convicted of crimes, while expanding opportunities for legal immigration and creating a path to citizenship for those seeking permanent status as U.S. residents.

The other resolution establishes a policy making it clear the county generally is not interested in knowing anyone's immigration status.

The policy states no Washtenaw County public servant can ask about the immigration status of any person while acting within their official duties, except under very specific circumstances, such as to comply with validly issued judicial warrants and when relevant to a criminal investigation.

Commissioner Conan Smith, D-Ann Arbor, brought forward the three resolutions that are now approved and ready to be implemented. He gives credit to immigrant rights advocates in the community for their work on the issue.

"The citizen coalition that came together around this was remarkable," he said. "They showed the County Board of Commissioners the power of community organizing in Washtenaw in ways that we haven't seen in many years."

Commissioner Michelle Deatrick, D-Superior Township, proposed amendments that added specific dollar amounts for the work to be done through Barrier Busters and MIRC. She said it's important the amounts be clearly stated for the sake of transparency, as it's a controversial issue.

Deatrick also won support for stripping the word "undocumented" from part of the funding resolution.

Commissioners said that does not mean the county won't be providing assistance to undocumented immigrants. The money still is expected to be used to help both documented and undocumented immigrants and their families.

Deatrick said she was concerned the county's funding for Barrier Busters has been cut back from $120,000 to $50,000 in recent years, so she's glad to see the $70,000 approved. She said the program is important, as it provides one-time emergency aid to people in need, helping them avoid evictions, utility shutoffs and homelessness, and getting them back on their feet.

Deatrick said she's also glad the county will be providing funds to help immigrants who want to apply for U.S. citizenship. She said seeking citizenship is a complicated process that can cost thousands of dollars.

She said the issue hits close to home for her. Her husband is from Canada and is a green card holder, and her sister-in-law is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Iran via Germany. She argues most Americans will find they come from immigrant families if they go back a couple generations.

"My mother-in-law, actually, she fled Poland when the Nazis invaded, and she was an illegal immigrant as she and her father fled through Europe. She didn't have papers," Deatrick said. "So when the circumstances of the world are such that people are placed in that situation, I think we do have a responsibility to help and we have the privilege of helping."

Smith said federal immigration enforcement action is up since Donald Trump became president and people who are productive members of society are being targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

He said Washtenaw County's policies and funding will help immigrants in the greater Ann Arbor area, but they won't solve the problem. He said Congress must approve immigration reforms and create a better path to citizenship.

"We need greater clarity around what is a deportable crime," he said. "Right now ICE is using any action, whether you've been convicted or not, as a basis for deportation. That is not just, and Congress needs to step in."

County Board Chairman Andy LaBarre, D-Ann Arbor, said spouses and children who are U.S. citizens are harmed when a parent who is not a U.S. citizen is deported, so it's an issue that negatively affects legal residents.

He said the county is still going to comply with state and federal laws, but to the extent that it has discretion the county is going to help its residents.