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ST. CHARLES COUNTY — A move to oppose the federal government's efforts to resettle thousands of refugees in the St. Louis region died in a tie vote Monday night in St. Charles County. 

The 3-3 vote came after the St. Charles County Council heard impassioned speeches from supporters and critics of the resolution, which opposed a longstanding federal program that could bring up to 30,000 refugees from Latin America into the St. Louis region. 

Similar programs were used to resettle Bosnian refugees in the 1990s and Afghan refugees in recent years. 

Supporters of the resolution said they believe the program is unconstitutional, while critics say the proposal is racially and ethnically motivated. 

"I hate the way (the resolution) paints St. Charles County. We've got issues in St. Charles County that we need to solve, and this is not one," said Councilman Mike Elam, who was joined by Councilwoman Nancy Schneider and Councilman Terry Hollander in voting against the resolution. 

Council members Joe Brazil, Tim Baker and Dave Hammond voted for the proposal. Councilman Matt Swanson was absent from the meeting. 

It would have taken four yes votes to pass the resolution.

Brazil, one of the sponsors of the resolution, said critics of the proposal were misguided. 

"They've talked about the how immigrants are a positive influence in our community, which they are. That's never been the conversation. This is about the federal government not following the constitution and the law," Brazil said.  

The failure of this resolution may not be the end of the immigration debate in St. Charles County. The resolution could come back in the future if two of the seven council members agree to sponsor it.  

"We are better than this, and we have to continue to fight as we did tonight in St. Charles County to appeal to people's better angels," said the Rev. Darryl Gray, pastor of Greater Fairfax Baptist Church in St. Louis. "We will continue to fight against any legislation that would discriminate against anyone period."