Published: 08.03.2006
Immigrant's rights groups to hold forum here
By CLAUDINE LoMONACO
Tucson Citizen
Immigrant's rights supporters say they were shut out of this summer's congressional hearings on immigration, so they are holding their own.
Tucson-based Derechos Humanos, together with the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, is hosting a forum Aug. 17 to give community members a chance to talk about the impact of border and immigration enforcement strategies.
"People need an opportunity to give another opinion," said congressman Raúl Grijalva, who will speak at the hearing, "because the Republican-led hearings have been a political road show and election-year tactic that has nothing to do with coming up with workable or doable legislation."
The forum,titled "Communities on the Line: Impacts of Militarization and Impunity," would provide some balance, Grijalva said.
Congressional Republicans have organized more Arizona forums, including one in Phoenix tonight and one in Sierra Vista August 17.
The congressional forums have largely served to promote the passage of the controversial, enforcement only House Bill 4377, Grijalva said. The bill would make felons of the country's 12 million estimated illegal immigrants.
The Tucson forum will give the public a chance to share its experiences living along the border and discuss how effective the border buildup has been in stopping unauthorized immigration, said Arnoldo Garcia of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
"The deterrence strategy is failing," he said. "It's only causing more deaths and hasn't eased unauthorized entries."
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