OntheWilderSide

Arizona’s passage of its new immigration law, SB 1070, in May of this year reignited a debate over the United States’ immigration system and enforcement policy. The debate is not new and, regrettably, has been marred over the years by harsh, incendiary rhetoric. The national and local conversations have become increasingly divisive and have not offered much in the way of solutions. While there has been much disagreement about how to address the problem, there can be little disagreement that something needs to change. This program is open to the public free of charge.This Thursday, September 16, 2010, the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association and Touro Law Center present “The Immigration Reform Debate: Getting Beyond the Rhetoric,” from 6:00-9:30pm at Touro Law Center, 225 Eastview Drive, Central Islip, NY 11722.

Featuring a distinguished lineup of speakers, including former Nassau County Executive, Thomas Suozzi, this program will provide an overview of immigration law and analyze the constitutionality of the recently enacted Arizona Law and other state and local laws designed to address immigration related issues. It will also explore the practical realities, limitations, and misconceptions faced in addressing these issues.

Richard J. Montes, President of the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association, and appellate attorney with Mauro Goldberg & Lilling, LLP (Great Neck, NY) says, “The program is based on a basic premise: in order to determine whether and how to reform our current system, it is important to know what the current system is, and how it works. This presentation will try to cut through the rhetoric and provide a foundation, as we think about what would be the best way to fix the current system.”