Last week’s Worldview Forum addressed the issue of illegal immigration in the United States.  In Grace or Law? Faithful Responses to Illegal Immigration in the United States, speakers Dr. James R. Edwards Jr., co-founder of Olive, Edwards, & Brinkman, and Dr. Helene Slessarev-Jamir, the Mildred M. Hutchinson associate professor of Urban ministries at the Claremont School of Theology, debated the problems concerned with illegal immigration.

Jane Hoyt-Oliver, professor and chair in the department of social work, was the moderator of the discussion. The debate began with two twenty-five speeches from each party.

 

Slessariv-Jamir opened with the first speech, arguing that there needs to be a change in the present system, and stresses the importance of Christians practicing hospitality. “The current laws do not work. We need to change these laws so that we can regularize people, [and] so they can come under the law,”  Slessariv-Jamir said. She said that cities such as Los Angeles and San Diego come from Spanish heritage, and those are Spanish names.As the daughter of immigrants, she stressed that the immigration laws are constantly changing.“I am now the direct product of immigration law,” said Slessariv-Jamir.  “I have lived this issue all my life.”

In the second speech, Dr. James Edwards said, “The U.S. has fallen short on its responsibility to protect its citizens.”He called illegal immigration an “understandable but lawless act.”“Scripture is pretty darn clear that we are to submit to earthly authorities. God is a god of order and places civil authorities and other earthly authorities over us as our protector,” Edwards said.

Many students who are concerned with the issue stood to ask questions and voiced their opinions. Some said they were able to see both sides of the issue, while others said they were not.

“Illegal immigrants are not here to come and rob you. They are the ones washing the public bathrooms. They are the ones cutting down the trees and [doing] everything that you don’t get to see, but you don’t appreciate that,” Divine Muragijimana, senior liberal arts, said.

Afterwards each speaker was allowed one question to ask their opponent, followed by a series of questions from the audience.

Oliver ended the discussion by thanking the audience for attending and with the closing statement, “We hope you have been enlightened.”

The Worldview Forum took place on Monday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Johnson Center.