Engage Sunday – US Immigration and Asylum
US Immigration and Asylum by Kat Griffith
Immigration is one of our most potent and politically fraught issues. This updated presentation on US immigration and asylum has three parts:
I will present a myth-busting look at border statistics since the 1990s, challenging much of the current narrative about migration.
- I’ll share the stories of several asylum seekers and you will see personal photos of a migrant camp, a tent court and deportation flight at the southern border.
- We will look at current realities on the ground and in our political discourse on the subject.
The presentation will end with a discussion of how to have productive conversations on this difficult topic with people of a range of political persuasions.
I am offering this presentation everywhere I can because of my recent experience of having it very warmly received by a politically mixed audience. I realized that if I could help bring the facts to more people and reduce the potency of this issue as a weapon of fear, that might be the most civically useful thing I could do in this coming year. I fear that an authoritarian may ride this issue to the White House and I’d like to do my part to help prevent that. I will also have a handout with tips and useful facts for those who wish to engage with moderates and conservatives on the issue.
