Immigration Reform in the U.S.

Almost all sides of the U.S. political spectrum agree that the immigration system has room for improvement. But where to begin? This discussion includes a range of perspectives on the immigration debate in the United States.

At La Clinica del Pueblo in Washington, D.C.,’s Columbia Heights neighborhood, Latino community members can access affordable health care.  Alicia Wilson directs La Clinica del Pueblo and wants to hear an inclusive discussion of immigration reform -- that includes health care, national security and pathways for legal migration.  We also hear from Paula Vazquez, originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, who helps support health care patients at La Clinica del Pueblo.

Those who hope to reduce the number of immigrants coming into the United States are also calling for reform. Roy Beck is the executive director of the immigration policy non-profit Numbers USA.

Casa de Maryland runs day laborer centers that connects immigrants, mostly from Africa and Latin America, with local employers. We hear from an anonymous laborer from El Salvador who thinks immigrants can actually help improve the U.S. economy.

Throughout the discussion we hear from: Demetrios Papademetriou, the president of the Migration Policy Institute, and Sheryl Winarick, a D.C.-based attorney specializing in immigration law.