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Sedgwick County Commission Tables Controversial Immigration Resolution

KPTS

The Sedgwick County Commission tabled a resolution Wednesday that would have asked the state to withhold benefits from undocumented immigrants, saving resources for lawful citizens of the county.

The resolution asked for the state to revise a law that allows undocumented immigrants to get in-state tuition at state colleges and universities if they have gone to school in Kansas for three years and have pursued a path to legal status.

The document also asks that the state Department of Health and Environment withdraw benefits for undocumented residents from the federally funded Women, Infants, Children program. WIC provides healthy food to poor pregnant and breastfeeding women and to poor children under five.

About 15 people spoke against the resolution at the meeting. Finally, Republican chairman Jim Howell asked to table it to a future agenda. Commissioner Dave Unruh, also a Republican, wanted to defeat the resolution completely.

You can watch video of the full meeting here. Discussion over the resolution begins at around the 45-minute mark.

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Aileen LeBlanc is news director at KMUW. Follow her on Twitter @Aileen_LeBlanc.

To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.