Willamina votes against illegal immigrant measure

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Story Published: Mar 28, 2008 at 5:51 PM PDT

Story Updated: Mar 29, 2008 at 2:51 PM PDT

By KATU Web Staff and Associated Press

WILLAMINA, Ore. - They won't be checking your passport or birth certificate in the town of Willamina.

The town council voted against a local measure aimed at ridding the community of illegal immigrants.

Paul Delaney, the council member who proposed the ordinance, said he came up with the idea out of frustration for what he sees as federal inaction. He said he's seen cities such as Woodburn and Hillsboro change because of their large Latino populations, and he doesn't want Willamina to follow that path.

"I just basically have a problem with illegal immigration in general," he said. "It's just expanding and blooming out of control."

But City Attorney Paul Elsner and other council members balked at the idea of Willamina tackling a federal issue.

Residents from Willamina and other towns packed the council chambers this week. The last council meeting to draw such interest occurred in early 2006, when the council tried to evict Agie, the popular library cat. The cat eventually won.

Delaney's general aim was to give local police expanded powers to check legal immigration status, which they don't have in Oregon.

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