The Knox County Commission voted to temporarily shelve a pair of proposed ordinances that would compel nonprofits receiving county grants to pledge not to serve immigrants without legal status.
The vote on Monday paused consideration of the proposed ordinances for six months. It came after a procession of clergy, nonprofit workers, activists and citizens stood before the panel of commissioners to deliver impassioned pleas against approving the ordinances. No one expressed support for the measures during a public comment period.
“You are proposing to penalize Knoxvillians for being good. You would turn food pantries, clinics and shelters into checkpoints and faithful servants into informants,” said Matthew Nance, a Knox County resident.
Nance was among the speakers who cited scripture in opposing the measures.
“You would threaten directors for refusing to betray what Christ commands: to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger and heal the wounded,” he said.