Paul Chamberlain Jr. has a message for illegal immigrants: Stay out of Taneytown.
The city councilman has proposed a resolution that would make it plain residents and officials in the northwest Carroll County town will not tolerate illegal immigrants and will do everything legally possible to keep them from living there.
“The mayor and city council of the City of Taneytown believe that being a ?sanctuary city? for illegal aliens would demean and harm civic life,” the resolution reads. “All officials and personnel of the city are directed to assist residents of the city to support the enforcement of our nation?s immigration and national laws.”
Taneytown?s take on illegals stands in sharp contrast to that of Takoma Park, which reaffirmed in October its status as a “sanctuary city,” where officials will look the other way instead of enforcing federal immigration laws.
“Takoma Park is a welcoming city,” said Terry Seamens, a member of the town?s City Council. “We hold Congress responsible for a failed immigration system rather than the men and women struggling to feed their families.”
Taneytown has a population of about 5,500 people, 96 percent of whom are white, and Chamberlain concedes that illegal immigration has not posed problems.
But to make sure things stay that way, he says, his resolution must pass.
Last year, the town became the only one in Maryland to make English its official language.
Some disagree with the resolution and say illegal immigration is a problem that should be left to the federal government to settle, not each small town in America.
“Are we going to turn our backs on these people?” asked Martin Radinsky, chairman of the Carroll County Democratic Central Committee. “We need to solve the problem, not say, ?Not in my backyard.? ”
The resolution was to be taken up for discussion and a possible vote at Monday night?s council meeting.
