TOWSON — In a vote along party lines, the Baltimore County Council voted 4-3 Monday night on two bills protecting non-citizens from discrimination and officially creating a county office of immigrant affairs.

Together, the two bills are called The Trust Act. Councilman Izzy Patoka, who introduced them to the council in December, spoke in favor of the legislation at Monday night’s council meeting.

“People are afraid to send their children to school. People are afraid to go to their place of worship. People are afraid to even go to work. People are afraid to assemble. Imagine that in this country, you’re afraid to assemble. Does that sound like this country? Not to me,” Patoka said.

Read full article: Baltimore County Council splits on immigration protections, Trust Act passes