Debate will explore implications of immigration

Debate will explore implications of immigration

by Melanie Wanzek (Contributing Writer)
Daily Northwestern
May 15, 2006

Both students and experts will bring one of America's most heated issues to the forefront Monday night in a discussion on the current immigration debate.

The Northwestern University branch of Americans for Informed Democracy (AID), a non-partisan student organization that seeks to educate about timely international issues, will host the debate, called "Entering the United States: The Immigration Controversy." The event will take place at 7 p.m. in Fisk 217 and is meant to inform students about both sides of the issue.

NU's international awareness group Globe and Filipino culture organization Kaibigan are co-sponsoring the event.

Elizabeth Graber, a Weinberg junior and incoming co-president of AID, said the debate is especially important right now because the House of Representatives toughened immigration laws in December and because of the recent rally police said drew about 400,000 attendees in Chicago.

"Immigration is such a pressing issue in Congress, but there is no clear answer," Graber said. "We want to find out why this is such a controversy and learn about the issues to become more informed."

Brynn Rubinstein, a Weinberg junior and AID Board of Directors member, proposed the discussion. It will center on a panel of experts including Diego Bonesatti of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; Susan Gzesh, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School and director of the university's Center for International Human Rights; and Abel Nuñez, associate director of Chicago immigrant resource center Centro Romero. Panel speakers will share their platforms and discuss the issue before opening up the discussion to audience questions.

Rubinstein said educating students is the event's main goal. She and Graber said they hope that informing students will lead them to take action here and at home.

"We want both sides to think about international implications - what immigration means on an international scope," Rubinstein said.

Weinberg junior and Kaibigan co-president Lesley Arca said her group chose to get involved because the immigration issue affects Filipinos, who are a less-visible contingent in the debate. She added that the topic is important for all Americans.

"We're not a politically-leaning group," Arca said. "We just want people to become more aware of the immigration issue because there are a lot of misconceptions. Hopefully people will realize America is a country built on immigration."

Josef Barton, a Northwestern history professor who specializes in immigration and Latin American history, will introduce and moderate the debate. Rubinstein said he also played a big role in advising AID and gathering speakers for the event.

A reception will be held before the discussion at 6:30 p.m. to help people start thinking about the issue in advance.

"We just want people there to listen, learn, share opinions and engage in the dialogue," Graber said. "It's important and does affect them, and it's important for everyone to understand and participate."

Reach Melanie Wanzek at m-wanzek@northwestern.edu.