Thread: Immigration 'phenomenon,' not 'problem'

Published: 02.24.2007

Immigration 'phenomenon,' not 'problem'
A Mexican official was able to deliver a planned immigration lecture Friday at the University of Arizona a year after illegal immigration opponents disrupted and forced the cancellation of his lecture.
A full auditorium at the UA's Integrated Learning Center heard Mexican Human Rights Inspector Mauricio Farah discuss the immigration "phenomenon" and his proposals for solutions. He delivered his lecture, titled "Mexico-U.S. Migration: Let's Talk About Solutions" in Spanish while a man in the back of the room translated it into English.
He emphasized the issue should be characterized as a "phenomenon" and not a problem, because illegal entrants provide a valuable contribution to the U.S. economy. Mexico and the United States must reach an understanding and each take responsibility for the factors that drive illegal immigration.
The speech and question-and-answer session went without incident, other than a somewhat heated discussion with a woman who belongs to an anti-illegal immigration group.
Farah said the views of people in the anti-illegal immigration circles in the United States are based on intolerance and prejudice and show a separation from the reality of the situation.
On Feb. 24, 2006, anti-illegal immigration advocates shouted him down, demanding he speak in English.
Peter Likins, then UA president, apologized to Farah, and accepted criticism that the university did not provide a translator. Farah returned at Likins' invitation.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/printDS/170758

What do you want to bet they screened attendees as best they could???
I'm glad we had one voice in the crowd!

Next thing they will be saying is it is all in our heads!

I'm sure its not a problem for the Mexicans they want our country and its being handed to them on a silver platter.

There are now 58 comments left after this story. Needless to say, it's interesting reading.