Deportation or Integration? Discussing the Alternatives: Substance & Process

Title: Deportation or Integration?Discussing the Alternatives: Substance & Process
Date: Sunday, March 09 2008 @ 12:00 PM



Co-sponsors:

First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto (sponsor)
League of Women Voters of Palo Alto
Multifaith Voices for Peace And Justice
American Muslim Voice
El Buen Pastor, Iglesia Episcopal Church

Who is deportable and why? Does this make sense?
What is the deportation process? Is enforcement fair?
How does our present immigration system help or hinder the integration of immigrants? Family unity?
What is the difference between integration and assimilation? Does it matter?

To what extent should we help immigrants to integrate into our community?

Are new Americans creating a new America? A new Silicon Valley? Is this positive or negative?
What is the Santa Clara County Model of Immigrant Integration? Why is it recognized nationally?


Location: First Presbyterian Church, 1140 Cowper Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301


Date: Sunday, March 9th, 2008


Time:

12:00 PM ­ 12:30 PM Buffet Luncheon

12:30 PM ­ 2:00 PM Lecture, Immigrant Testimonials, Q and A


Cost: $5-Suggested donation to cover luncheon costs

We have chosen two speakers recognized for their expertise and their commitment to finding solutions to this very complicated issue: RICHARD HOBBS and CINDY AVITIA. In addition, the HON. POLLY A. WEBBER has agreed to provide insight on the provisions of the law and the procedures in the Court.

Richard Hobbs is the Director of the Office of Human Relations of Santa Clara County. Programs under his management include the Santa Clara County Dispute Resolution Programs, Immigrant Relations and Integration Services, the Network for a Hate-Free Community, the Youth Task Force and the Human Relations Commission. Prior to assuming his current role 3 years ago, he served for over 9 years as the Director of Citizenship and Immigrant Programs for Santa Clara. Richard is an immigration attorney and a recognized expert on immigrants and their impact on our local economy. He is a frequent speaker at international, national and state conferences that deal with immigrant issues.

Hon. Polly A. Webber, Immigration Judge, EOIR, San Francisco, CA., was National President of AILA in 1989-1990 and practiced immigration and nationality law in the San Francisco Bay Area for 18 years before joining the bench in 1995. Judge Webber has authored numerous articles and has spoken extensively in the field, in addition to teaching immigration and nationality law at Santa Clara University School of Law and Lincoln Law School. She is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley and U.C. Hastings College of the Law.

Cindy Avitia is a Congressional Assistant to U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. Lofgren chairs the House Immigration Subcommittee on Immigration. Cindy's main issue area within the Congresswoman's office is immigration. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Santa Clara University School of Law and has handled hundreds of immigration cases. Cindy is very knowledgeable about the politics (in the Senate and the House) surrounding immigration reform and is very realistic about the prospects for legislative solutions to the economic and human costs of our current immigration laws.