USCRI Presidential Forum on Immigration

 
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Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. at DMACC Ankeny Campus in Ankeny, IA.

  # CANDIDATES: (as of Jan. 13 confirmation from Andrew Yang and tentatives from Warren, Biden, Sanders and Buttigieg).

Background:  "The purpose is to give the American voter the opportunity to hear the candidates’ ideas about their plans to address the current challenges of America’s immigration policies."
   
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)

Immigration has been cited as the top concern for Americans preceding the 2020 election. Immigration is also cited as one of the most contentious issues in the campaigns. The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) believes that American voters want facts, clear policy options and a path forward to improve our immigration system—one that reflects America’s historical principles and values and responds to the realities of a 21st century global system. We have chosen the weekend commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday to hold this forum as a celebration of his enduring legacy. Dr. King spent his life promoting the ideal that all people should be treated with dignity.

Our mission—to respect the rights and respond to the needs of persons in forced or voluntary migration worldwide and support their transition to a dignified life—embraces Dr. King’s historic and transformational legacy.

In his seminal “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” Dr. King wrote, Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds. In that spirit of equality and inclusiveness, we invite your participation in this commemorative event.

USCRI’s Forum on Immigration invites Presidential candidates from the major parties. The purpose is to give the American voter the opportunity to hear the candidates’ ideas about their plans to address the current challenges of America’s immigration policies.

Please join USCRI and DMACC on Sunday, January 19, 2020, at 3:00 pm to hear what the candidates have to say about this important topic.

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FORMAT
For the format, each candidate will be given a block of time to present their views on immigration and vision for immigration reform (e.g. 3:30-3:50) alone on stage. We will then ask the candidate a few questions from the audience and moderators that have been pre-screened. In this way, the candidate will not have to commit to a 2-hour block of time, and will have the flexibility to leave for another event. The candidate will be seated on stage during his/her block of time with the two moderators, Mr. Joshua Barr and Ms. Menesha Paudel of Des Moines’ Office of Civil and Human Rights. It will be a very friendly setting.
 
AGENDA
1. nvocation by Pastor Whitfield of the Corinthian Baptist Church
2. Welcome by DMACC President Rob Denson
3. Joshua Barr and Manisha Paudel
Introduction: Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King
4. Candidates
 
AUDIENCE
Joining us will be Des Moines area refugee and immigrant members of the community, employers of refugees, members of the Corinthian Baptist Church, community organizations and DMACC faculty and staff.