Forum on socio-economic realities of immigration

The socio-economic side of immigration will be highlighted in a free public forum 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, in Smith CUE 203.

“The Socio-Economic Realities of Immigration – Past and Present” follows a confrontation at WSU last November during which groups with divergent viewpoints and diverse cultural backgrounds argued over whether and how the U.S. should control its borders.

“The fact that the clash over immigration focused on illegal immigration and sparked harsh words and emotional trauma for many should not have come as a surprise,” said Ed Weber, director of WSU’s Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service and acting chair of the Department of Political Science. “Immigration has been a hot-button issue in U.S. politics for many of the past 200 years.”

The forum will feature nationally known experts Bill Ong Hing, UC Davis, and Hans Johnson, Public Policy Institute of California. They will discuss the legal, demographic, economic and social aspects of immigration in the U.S.

The Foley Institute is organizing the forum in cooperation with International Programs, the Department of Comparative Ethnic Studies, ASWSU, the Office of Equity and Diversity and the Office of the Provost.

“Knowledge builds bridges between divergent perspectives,” said Lance LeLoup, associate vice provost and administrator of WSU’s International Programs. “Our goal is simple: provide good information so that people can make decisions based on facts.”