A DUP councillor suspended by a standards watchdog over comments about a Sinn Fein MP is facing another probe over online remarks about asylum seekers.
Marc Collins faced criticism over comments last year in which he raised concerns about a hotel in Carrickfergus being used by the Home Office to temporarily accommodate some migrants.
The councillor said on Facebook there were "plenty within our own communities who need help first and foremost".
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He questioned whether they had received Covid-19 vaccinations and if they had any criminal history, asking: "What happens if a crime is committed while in the town?"
Mr Collins also asked why hotels were not being provided to "our homeless veterans".
His online post received hundreds of responses with people both in support of and opposed to his remarks.
Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson at the time described the comments as "vile", while SDLP MP Claire Hanna said those seeking asylum "should be treated with compassion".
It has since emerged a complaint was made to the council standards watchdog and the remarks have been referred for investigation.
A spokesman for the local government standards commissioner's office said: "We received a complaint that a councillor in the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area breached the councillor's code of conduct.
"This complaint has been passed for investigation."
The DUP has been approached for comment.
In June, Mr Collins was suspended for eight months from his council role over posts on Twitter about Sinn Fein MP John Finucane in 2019 when he was a Westminster election candidate.
He posted a message alleging that Mr Finucane "supports and promotes the IRA".
He also retweeted a message promoting a controversial banner erected in West Belfast's Shankill area which referred to several members of Mr Finucane's family.
In submissions to the watchdog, Mr Collins argued that sharing a post on Twitter via a retweet was not necessarily an endorsement of its contents.
Mr Collins also said that Mr Finucane had addressed a republican Easter commemoration in North Belfast's Ardoyne area in 2018 - a commemoration which the councillor said "traditionally remembers and celebrates the IRA".
The acting commissioner found the councillor's Twitter activity "went beyond the acceptable bounds of proper political debate" and was "unnecessary and personally abusive".
It was also found to have "contributed towards a toxic atmosphere" during the election campaign and resulted in Mr Finucane believing his family's safety was "in jeopardy".
The language used by politicians on immigration has been in the spotlight this week as the UK government's Home Secretary faced criticism for describing as an "invasion" people crossing the English Channel in small boats.
Suella Braverman is under pressure to deal with overcrowding at an asylum processing centre in Kent which has reportedly led to outbreaks of disease and violence.
In a combative Commons performance on Monday, she denied ignoring legal advice to procure more accommodation.
But she faced criticism from some opposition MPs for saying the government is committed to "stopping the invasion on our southern coast".
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick warned against demonising people seeking to come to the UK, as he distanced himself from Ms Braverman's choice of words.
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