Oregon Public Broadcasting

Arizona's controversial new immigration law is reverberating through city and county council chambers around the Northwest.

The latest is Woodland, a small town in southwest Washington. Tom Banse reports on what happened there when the city council considered supporting Arizona's tough stance.

Standing room only at Woodland City Council

The immigration resolution was "purely symbolic" according to its sponsor. But that didn't stop people from overflowing the Woodland council chambers.

A former police chief, Grover Lasike, voiced the sentiment that carried the day.

Grover Lasike: "This issue is a partisan issue. It is a divisive issue. It is a federal problem that belongs at the federal level."

The council voted 4 to 3 to shoot down a resolution that would have urged the Washington Legislature to copy Arizona's tough enforcement approach.

Last month, the Long Beach, Washington, council did pass such a resolution.

On the other hand, Portland, Tacoma, and Seattle have condemned the Arizona law. In the Northwest, only the Seattle city council has gone so far as to call for a boycott of Arizona travel and business contracts.