Committee Endorses Winston-Salem 'Welcoming City' Resolution

A Winston-Salem city committee has endorsed a “Welcoming City” resolution on a split vote.

The resolution reaffirms Winston-Salem's commitment to provide a “safe and welcoming environment to immigrants, refugees and other newcomers.”

The statement stops short of declaring Winston-Salem a “sanctuary city,” a designation that could invite financial penalties imposed by state lawmakers.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports the resolution, proposed by Council member Dan Besse, passed on a 3-1 vote by the general government committee.

Council member Robert Clark, the committee's only Republican, dissented, calling it a partisan document designed to create division between the city and lawmakers in Raleigh and Washington.

City attorney Angela Carmon says Besse's resolution would not technically violate a state law against sanctuary ordinances, but added that some people might interpret it that way.

The resolution will go before the full city council on Monday.