President's Peace Commission

Fall 2005 Program

Do We Want"Your Poor, Your Tired, Your Huddled Masses"? Immigration Today

Tuesday, October 25 �Thursday, October 27, 2005

Given the current efforts in Congress to review and revise currentimmigration policy and given the activities of citizen organizations in response to perceived problems with current immigration policies, the President's Peace Commission will focus its fall program on the topic of immigration. This is a particularly timely and relevant topic for St. Mary's University given our geographic location and our designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution of higher education. The fall program will include panels on immigration policy reforms, the relationship between national security and immigration, assessment of the economic,cultural, and political impact of immigrants, as well as panels addressing other issues and problems. The purpose of the fall program is to make our students, faculty, staff, and the larger San Antonio community aware of the implications of this important topic and promote efforts to create a more just and peaceful society.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Opening Prayer: Edward Violett, SM, PhD, Director, International Relations Graduate Program, St. Mary's University

9:45 AM - 11:00 AM: Immigration 101: All You Ever Wanted to Know about Immigration but Were Too Busy to Ask

1. Who are they? What groups of people have come to the US andw heredo they tend to settle?
2. What changes have occurred over time in terms of who comes tothe US and where they settle?
3. Why do they come to the US? What are the "push/pull" factorsthat bring immigrants into the US?
4. What, exactly, is the difference between illegal and legal immigrants?  How do legal immigrants become illegal? How do illegal immigrants become legal?
5. What are immigration trends in Texas? In south Texas?

11:10 AM - 12:25 PM: An Immigrant Tale: Stories from Among Us
A panel of students, staff, and faculty who share their experience as an immigrant

1. What stereotypes have you encountered?
2. What have been the greatest challenges you have confronted?
3. What do you think about the American Dream?
4. Do you think the US is a melting pot of immigrants?
5. What benefits do you think immigrants can bring to the US?

12:35 PM - 1:50 PM: The Changing Face of America:Political and Cultural Impact of Immigration

1. What have been recent trends in changing demographics in the US as a result of immigration patterns?
2. What have been recent trends in changing demographics in theTexas as a result of immigration patterns?
3. What political impact, if any, do these trends have in the political arena, national, state, or local?
4. What are some future implications of present trends? For example, are there clear patterns of voting behavior that will have an impact in future elections?
5. What are some of the cultural impacts of immigration trends?
6. How have immigration trends affected our understanding of national identity?

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

9:20 AM - 10:10 AM: Dollars and Cents: Economic Impact of Documented and Undocumented Immigrants

1. What are the arguments that suggest that immigrants are an economic plus for the US?
2. What are the arguments that suggest that immigrants are an economic cost for the US?
3. Is there a difference in the economic impact of documented and undocumented immigrants for the US?
4. What are the economic affects of immigrants for San Antonio?
5. What are the economic costs and benefits (or other costs and benefits) for the countries from which the immigrants left?

10:20 AM - 11:10 AM: Helping or Hurting? Social Welfare Policies and Immigration

1. What social welfare program (federal or state) are documented immigrants eligible for?
2. What social welfare programs (federal or state) are undocumented immigrants eligible for?
3. What is the debate over access to public education? Health care?
4. What are some examples of different states� responses to immigrants and social welfare?

11:20 AM - 12:10 PM: Open Arms or Closed Borders: Citizens'Responses to Immigration

1. What are some of the citizen action groups that have beencreated to respond to perceived immigration problems?
2. What are the objectives and strategies of some of these groups?
3. What are the main debates and controversies surrounding these groups?
4. What is (should be) the relationship between citizen action groups and government agencies?

12:20 PM - 1:10 PM: Catholic Social Teaching and Immigration

1. What is Catholic social teaching and how does it relate to the topic of immigration?
2. Are there examples of individuals or groups who deal with immigrants in a manner consistent with Catholic social teaching?
3. Are there "gaps" between Catholic social teaching and US immigration policies or practices?
4. How does the Catholic Church help immigrants in the US? In San Antonio?

Thursday, October 27, 2005

9:45 AM - 11:00 AM: Immigration Legislation: Current Policy andProposed Reforms

1. What are the major points of the present US immigration policy?
2. What have been some of the major changes in immigration law in the20^thcentury and why were changes seen as necessary?
3. What are some of the arguments made now that changes in policy are required?
4. What are some of the proposed changes in existing immigration policy�what problems are they intended to address and how do they "solve" the problem?

11:10 AM - 12:25 PM: Slipping Through the Cracks: Rights and Immigration

1. Are there areas where there are inconsistencies in immigration legislation and its enforcement?
2. What are some of the obstacles in implementing immigration legislation effectively?
3. What are some impacts on San Antonio of implementation of immigration legislation? On St. Mary�s University in terms of our international students?

12:35 PM - 1:50 PM: Immigration and National Security

1. How did the terrorist attacks of 9/11 affect immigration policies and practices in the US?
2. What are the different positions concerning the relationship between immigration, immigration policy, and national security? Towhat extent is immigration a threat to national security?
3. How have attitudes about immigrants in the US changed in the past few years? Are changing attitudes the result of national security concerns or economic concerns?

The President's Peace Commission fosters an ethical commitment to participate in the establishment of world peace and social justice. TheCommission encourages respect for human rights and dignity of all people. The Commission annually hosts symposia that offer opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to grow in their active pursuit ofpeace and justice. Through the symposia and other activities, theCommission seeks to build within the St. Mary's University community a greater awareness of the Roman Catholic and Marianist perspectives on peace and justice. The President's Peace Commission reflects theUniversity community through student, staff, and faculty representatives appointed by the University President.

Students: Heather Albright, Kavita Bhalla, Floyd Contreras,Weston Elkins 

Staff: Michelle Burell, Migdalia Garc�a, AllisonHalpern, Sonny E. Kelly, Patricia Mejia

Faculty: Elijah Akhahenda, PhD; C�line A.Jacquemin, PhD; Leona Pallansch, PhD; Richard S. Pressman, PhD

Mark your calendars for this upcoming event:

President's Peace Commission Spring 2006 Program
Tuesday, March 21  - Thursday, March 23

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For information about our programs, see our web site at
http://www.stmarytx.edu/ppc/

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updated November 17, 2005

President'sPeaceCommission at St. Mary's University One Camino Santa Maria | San Antonio, Texas   78228 phone: (210) 436-3204 fax: 210-431-4336 lpallansch@stmarytx.edu