The “Respecting Families and the Rule of Law: A Lasting Immigration Policy” panel discussed various points relating to the construction of a sustainable U.S. immigration policy that would both address the conservative focal point of “rule of law” and the liberal focal point that “families would be broken up” under a new, harsher anti-illegal-immigration policy. The panel consisted of 5 members, and was moderated by Helen Aguirre Ferré, a Hispanic political journalist who hosts the Univision show “Zona Politica.”
Dr. Whit Ayres, the President of Republican polling firm North Star Opinion Research, stressed a path to legal citizenship, strong hispanic family values, and improving the economic opportunities in order for the Hispanic community as well as America as whole to continue to be competitive globally. Dan Garza, a GOP operative and the Executive Director of the LIBRE Initiative, an initiative targeting Hispanics by emphasizing fewer business regulations and economic liberty laid out his ideas for a true path to citizenship. However, there was quite a bit of disagreement when Helen Krieble took the stage. Krieble has been working for years on promoting freedom, democracy, and solutions that would eliminate the political deadlock on illegal immigration. As the Founder and President of the Vernon K. Krieble Foundation, she delved into the discussion by saying “limited government and lower taxes, free markets without government intervention, and a real plan for lasting immigration reform through types of amnesty” are the core principles to reach real Immigration reform.
Jennifer Sevilla Korn followed Krieble’s remarks. Korn is the Executive Director of the Hispanic Leadership Network, which is part of the right-of-center 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, American Action Network. She detailed that, “the only way to reach a long-term, successful republican party is to start, as a party, lead the way on immigration reform.” Korn went on to say that this truly is a national security issue, much like education.
The Honorable Raúl Labrador, U.S. Representative from Idaho (District 1), rose to prominence in 2010 when when he defeated GOP establishment-preferred Vaughn Ward in the Congressional primary race for Idaho’s District 1. However, his views were music to the ears of GOP leaders who agree with his staunch stance against amnesty. As a Puerto Rican, Mormon, and conservative, he brings a unique perspective to the panel - he is opposed to amnesty and citizenship paths for illegals, and is in favor of a stronger border security.
