LWVUS IMMIGRATION STUDY

NOTE Time and Day Correction for Film Screening

Please join us for our first fall event focusing on immigration, jointly sponsored by our League and Washington College:

 

Movie Screening:

Estamos Aqui  (We Are Here)

A film about Guatemalan immigrants living in

Georgetown, Delaware

Wednesday, November 14, 6:30 pm

Norman James Theatre

Washington College, Chestertown

 

 

Immigration is the topic of a two-year nationwide study sponsored by LWVUS.  The consensus questions for this study may be viewed by going to our webpage, www.kent.lwvmd.org, and then clicking on the immigration study links.  The first four questions are multi-part and lengthy; the next two are answered by the words “consensus” or “no consensus” and the final question is open-ended.  In preparation for our meeting to discuss and answer the questions, we hope to offer resources and events to help us examine this complex issue. (See page 4 of this newsletter to learn about two Western-shore panel discussions that may be of interest.)

 

Just to get us thinking, here is an (unofficial, unauthorized) abbreviated version of the questions:

  • Federal immigration laws should take into consideration what kinds of criteria?  Ethnic and cultural diversity? Economic need? Environmental impact? Sustainability? Family reunification?  (Among many others)
  • How should unauthorized immigrants be treated?
  • What categories of immigrants should be given expedited entry? Those who are persecuted? Those meeting U.S. labor needs?  Students?  Those joining families?
  • What sorts of responses should federal laws dealing with unauthorized immigrants include?   Increased personnel?  Physical barriers?  I.D. cards? (Among many others)
  • Consensus or no consensus:  Federal immigration laws should address and balance the long-term federal financial benefit from immigration with the financial costs borne by state and local governments.  
  • Consensus or no consensus: Federal immigration laws should be coordinated with U.S. foreign policy to proactively help improve economies, education and political opportunities, and living conditions of nations with large emigrating populations.
  • Opportunity for comments  (150 words)

 

More Events of Interest about Immigration!

·        Public Forum on Immigration:  Thursday, October 18, 7:00 – 9:30 pm, at BayWoods of Annapolis, Norair Hall.   Sponsored by the Anne Arundel County League of Women Voters.    Participants are Herb McMillan, former Delegate to the Maryland General Assembly; Patricia Hatch, Member of the Immigration Study Committee of the League of Women Voters of the U.S. (see below);  and  a representative from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security. Moderated by Dr. Daniel Nataf, Professor of Political Science, Anne Arundel Community College.  Directions: From Route 50, take Exit 22 - Aris T. Allen, Hwy 665.  Once on 665, stay in the left lane and continue to the first stoplight where it becomes Forest Drive.  After about 2.6 miles on Forest Drive, turn left onto Edgewood Road (just after the Giant Food Shopping Center on the left).  Continue on Edgewood Road past some marinas (Bert Jabins is one).  BayWoods of Annapolis is on the right, after a 90º bend in the road where it becomes Bembe Beach Road.

 

·        D.C. Immigration Panel: Wednesday, October 24, 10 am – noon, at the Sumner School, 17th and M streets, N.W.  Sponsored by the Washington, D.C. League of Women Voters. Panelists are Patricia Hatch, chief of programs at the Maryland Office for New Americans and a member of the LWVUS immigration study; Donald Kewin, executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc; and  Doris Meissner, fellow, Migration Policy Institute and former director of the Naturalization and Immigration Service. Questions may be directed to naomisol@juno.com.