Orange County Commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to welcome unaccompanied minors fleeing violence in Central America, and to ensure child refugees have access to legal protection and public education.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection estimates that as many as 69,000 unaccompanied minors have sought to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in the past year and a half.

1,490 children have been relocated to North Carolina to stay with family or caregivers while awaiting deportation hearings.

“These wonderful families who have taken in these children pay taxes everyday, so don’t let the people who are saying they’re not taxpayers sway your support of this issue,” said Doris Brunson, Chair of Orange County’s Human Rights Commission.

The board’s resolution affirms the right of immigrant children to seek public education and calls on the federal government to provide legal representation at hearings.

ACLU spokesperson Sarah Preston told commissioners the lack of legal support for children is of great concern.

“We think its is patently unfair that the government pays for a trained prosecutor to advocate for the deportation of a child who came here fleeing violence while the child is forced to defend him or herself in court,” said Preston.

The board also voted to forward the resolution to other commissioners across the state.

“I think it is not only important for us in Orange County to reaffirm our commitment to justice and equal treatment, to the constitutional principles outlined in this resolution, but to stake out a strong position for our other colleagues across the state, as well as our colleagues in Orange County, that they should do the same,” said Commissioner Mark Dorosin.

This resolution is similar to one passed by Carrboro Aldermen last month. The Chapel Hill Town Council is likely to follow suit in the coming weeks.

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