- Thursday, March 24, 2016
- 3:30 PM–5:00 PM
- De Vos Communications Center Lobby
The second "Challenges for the Next President" discussion will focus on immigration.
The Challenges for the Next President series includes events over the months leading up to November 2016 to discuss hot topics in the upcoming election cycle. Events throughout the spring and fall of 2016 will provide audiences with various viewpoints on current issues in a setting that is not intended to be a debate, with "right" and "left" choices, but instead to examine various points of view which will allow participants to become more educated and thoughtful voters as they go to the polls on November 8. The general public is invited to participate in these in-depth conversations!
The second panel will consider immigration issues, and will feature Luis Avila (Varnum Law) and Doug Koopman (Calvin Political Science Department) considering what government's role should be in reforming U.S. immigration policy. What are the basic tenets of a just and workable immigration policy? Do we consider welcoming the stranger and being created in the image of God? Should immigration quotas be restricted or expanded? How should the U.S. treat long-term illegal immigrants, or individuals brought illegally to the U.S. as children? What about children—and adults—who are fleeing violence in their home country? How do we protect national security and our standard of living in considerations about immigration? Should the U.S. call to the world’s “tired and poor” be retracted? Is better screening of applications needed, or are current procedures adequate?