A Cook County commissioner is proposing an ordinance that would allow Illinois college graduates without legal immigration status to work in the county’s medical facilities.

Roberto Maldonado says the county needs more health care workers that speak Spanish.

He will propose the controversial ordinance at tomorrow’s board meeting.

“We’re gonna ask the Cook County State’s Attorney for a legal opinion as to this provision of the ordinance and to see if there would be any type of vehicle by which possibly we could get a waiver for future graduates,” Maldonado says. “And hopefully we would be able to justify that based upon the need.”

Maldonado says the county is in a health care crisis and can’t wait any longer for more medical staff.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office did not comment on the proposed ordinance, but a Chicago immigration attorney says it’s against federal law for any company to employ undocumented workers.