ABA begins dialogue series on immigration reform
The state and future of U.S. immigration law and policy is the focus of a four-part series of panel presentations being held in Washington, D.C., in January and February. Included in the discussions will be a look at the Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, which was agreed to in the U.S. House of Representatives late in the 2005 congressional session. The bill provides for mandatory detention, expedited removal, and criminal penalties for civil immigration violations.
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| ABA symposium, "Fortress America: Comprehensive Immigration Reform," with (L-R) Anthony Romero, ACLU; Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform; Christina DeConcini, National Immigration Forum; Ana Avendano, immigrant worker program, AFL-CIO |
"Fortress America: Comprehensive Immigration Reform," the first program of the series sponsored by the Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities, was held on January 12 at the National Press Club. Subsequent programs are being held on an approximately weekly basis. Among the hot-button issues to be covered are recent legislative developments; asylum and refugees, including creation of the new Refugee Corps by the Department of Homeland Security; detention and removal, including abuse and misconduct; and alternatives to detention.
According to organizers of the series, the pending immigration legislation could undermine state and local law enforcement's ability to work as partners with the immigration community and to protect victims of crime. Further, due process protections are at play in immigration reform legislation.
Speakers at the programs include such noteworthy voices in the immigration debate as Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union; Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Freedom; Angelo Amador, director of immigration policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and Kevin Appleby, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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