As Congress begins hearings and debates on what immigration reform legislation should look like, one of the recurring themes has been enhanced border enforcement. The Senate group of 8 proposal conditions legalization on the fulfillment of a series of increased resources, technology, and security requirements along the border; the President did not tie border enforcement to legalization, but nonetheless called for an emphasis on expanded border control. However, what does it mean to control the border? Can we measure border safety and national security solely through the number of Border Patrol agents in place or the use of more sophisticated technology? Many border experts have concluded that focusing on the border as solely an immigration issue misses the point, because true border safety requires a different mindset and more targeted objectives that have little to do with unauthorized immigration. Please join experts who will provide an overview of how we can achieve a truly secure border, what role border security triggers can or should play in advancing immigration reform legislation and alternatives that would best serve the nation.

Speakers:

• Terry Goddard, Former Arizona Attorney General
• David Shirk, Associate Professor, Political Science and International Relations and Director, Trans-Border Institute, University of San Diego
• Su Kim, Advocacy Associate, American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Mary Giovagnoli, Director, Immigration Policy Center (Moderator)

RSVP:
Please email Wendy Feliz at wfeliz@immcouncil.org for dial-in directions or call 202-507-7524. If you are not press or hill staff, a recording of the the call will be available online Wednesday for review purposes.