Cook County Board commissioners today will discuss an ordinance that would allow the county to hire Illinois college graduates who are in the U.S. illegally. The ordinance is meant to bring more Spanish-speaking health care workers to the county’s medical facilities.

But Paul Zulkie, an immigration attorney in Chicago, says the proposal contradicts federal law.

“Many of these children, these college students, high school students have no documentation of legal status of any kind. So, as a result, they’re unemployable in normal situations,” he explains.

Zulkie says an undocumented college graduate must get a visa to legally work in the U.S.

Commissioner Roberto Maldonado plans to propose the ordinance and says Cook County’s health care system is in a crisis and needs more medical staff.