Posted on September 8, 2024

Alabama City Council Meeting Comes to Abrupt Close After Questions About Haitian Immigrants

William Thornton, AL.com, September 6, 2024

A Sylacauga City Council meeting was cut short after only 20 minutes Thursday following questions from several residents about recent Haitian immigration to the area.

Council President Tiffany Nix brought the meeting to a close after several residents asked questions about how the city knew workers coming there were legal immigrants, who had determined this, and what effect they were having on crime and housing.

After three residents asked questions during the meeting, Nix brought it to a close. “I’m going to cut it off,” she said.

One resident, saying she was concerned, asked “who is heading up watching over this situation?”

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Another resident asked why council members had not attempted to learn where immigrant workers are coming from on buses. Nix asked if anyone had actually seen anyone bused into town. From a video of the meeting, it did not appear anyone said they had.

“I also went by where they’re living, some of them, and they’re just sitting around there, not working,” the resident asked. “They supposedly came here to work.” Someone pointed out people work night shifts.

“I want to welcome anyone to Sylacauga that wants to come to Sylacauga,” Nix said. “If you’re here stimulating our economy, thank you. That’s how I feel about it. If people aren’t breaking the law, they’re not causing any problems, I don’t…I don’t see what the issue is.”

Another resident said, “the attitude of the council throughout this process is entirely unacceptable.”

“Do we know where the individuals we’re discussing are coming from?” he asked. “Where their point of origin is? Because you’re treating them like lawful U.S. citizens, which they are not.”

Nix jumped in at that point. “OK, so I’m going to cut it off…again, we have no reason to launch an investigation or to treat people differently because of how they look.”

“These individuals came here from Haiti,” the man said. “Haiti is a failed state. Their president was assassinated in 2021. There’s no way the State Department can vet these individuals…”

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Original Article