Deliberative Dialogue: Immigration Reform

On a cold, December evening, 60 (or so) of us gathered around tables filled with soup and dinner rolls to engage in meaningful conversation around immigration reform.  Led by Queens Students who were trained in the "deliberative dialogue" technique, participants discussed three options for reform: shoring up our existing system while also providing an acceptable way for the millions of undocumented immigrants currently living here to earn the right to citizenship; tighter control of the border, tougher law enforcement, and stricter limits on immigration quotas; and offering a range of flexible measures such as annual adjustments to quotas that put a priority on our economic needs.  At the end of our deliberations most of those in the room (at least the more vocal) landed on option 3: flexible measures promoting economic prosperity.  All who participated experienced robust conversations with diverse opinions expressed around tables of new friends.  

Because the majority of this program happened in small groups, we did not make an audio recording.