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Plans continue for an immigration summit

By KEN BLACK

Jan 7, 2007

Plans to hold an immigration summit in Marshalltown are moving forward with a couple of Iowa’s federal officials on board with the idea.

Both Sen. Charles Grassley and Rep. Tom Latham expressed interest and said the idea would be of some benefit to those who set laws and policy in Washington, D.C. The Times-Republican has called for the summit in the wake of a raid at the Swift & Company plant in Marshalltown and other states in December.

Approximately 1,300 people were arrested on immigration and/or other charges when agents with the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement made the bust as part of an investigation into an identity theft scheme. While the raid yielded some of the suspects involved in that operation, most of those arrested were alleged to be in violation of U.S. immigration procedures.

Messages left with Sen. Tom Harkin’s staff were not returned.

“We’re going to have a huge debate this year in Congress on the immigration situation,” Latham said. “It would be very helpful to get lots of different pionts of view.”

Latham pledged to help arrange the summit in any way he could, saying his committee assignments have given him good contacts with some top officials.

Grassley was also asked if he thought such a dialogue would be beneficial.

“Definitely if you are going to be able to have all points of view expressed and not have a preconceived notion of what ought to be accomplished,” Grassley said. “There isn’t enough appreciation of different points of view on the issue and, more importantly, people don’t take time to listen.”

Because debate on immigration issues is expected to take place fairly soon into this legislative session, Latham advised the summit should happen within the next several months.

The T-R hopes the issue will attract not only federal officials elected from Iowa, but other policymakers and lawmakers from across the United States.