McDonnell, Moran Draw Full House at Immigration Engagement Forum
By Steve Hunt
July 20, 2006
Mount Vernon residents had the opportunity to hear from conservative Republican Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell and liberal Democrat U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th) at an immigration engagement forum hosted by the organization, Generation Engage, at Progreso Hispano Friday evening.
Generation Engage, with its mission of "energizing and engaging the youth vote," and Progreso Hispano, located at 4100 Mohawk Lane in the Richmond Highway corridor area, with the mission of serving the immigrant community, teamed up to host the forum specifically targeting young adults and encouraging them to get involved.
For example, both McDonnell and Moran praised Mount Vernon high school student Fernando Marquez, for doing just that that evening by participating in the forum rather than hanging out playing video games.
McDonnell applauded the 15-year-old Marquez telling him that he "could be a model for his peers."
Moran told Marquez he should get involved in politics ("preferably Republican" interjected McDonnell) to which Moran responded that he didn't agree with the Attorney General on that point.
Christopher Lewis, Virginia state director of Generation Engage, welcomed the crowd, saying that while young people have expressed their opinions on immigration by demonstrating in the streets, what they really need to do is to get directly involved in the political process.
"Direct access is what you need to make a difference," said Lewis.
Christina Schoendorf, executive director of Progreso Hispano, said that services at Progreso Hispano include citizenship classes and English as a Second Language classes where there is presently a wait list.
"Demand is increasing," said Schoendorf, adding that for the immigrant community on the Richmond Highway corridor, "whatever it takes, we are here to help."
Moran began his remarks asking if anyone there was a Native American as they are really the only people who are not immigrants to this country.
Moran, the child of an immigrant, noted that it is immigrants who build this country, including those from Africa who were brought here under force who contributed the most to the nation's economy and got nothing back in return.
With a 2 percent unemployment rate in the 8th Congressional District, Moran noted that the region's economy is dependent on immigrant labor and acknowledged that many of those immigrants are undocumented.
If those undocumented immigrants were to become felons under the law, industries such as construction and hospitality "would collapse," said Moran.
Moran described those undocumented workers, who have no political power, as "easy pickin's" for some politicians who support a law that would not only make the undocumented immigrants, estimated to be some 12 million nationwide felons, but would also make criminals out of those who help them, such as church groups and charitable organizations.
Moran said he's seen plenty of "immigrant bashing" lately and "I find that unfortunate."
Making it a crime to help people in need is not only impractical and irresponsible but simply "umAmerican," said Moran.
However, Moran went on to say that all immigrants must learn English and he supports a biometric identity card which cannot be altered.
Moran said all immigrants here must be on the path to citizenship.
Moran acknowledged that some may see him as "way out there" on the issue, but took pride in saying that "I use my left hand deliberately. That's the way I see it."
McDonnell, who commented that he uses his right hand, began his remarks noting that he grew up in the Mount Vernon area and his father still lives here. He said in 1969 he worked at a Dairy Queen and could look out the window of Progreso Hispano and see the building, now a chicken restaurant.
McDonnell said one of the great problems facing Virginia and the nation today is apathy, particularly by young people who will be shaping the nation's future for decades to come.
McDonnell told of his grandfather immigrating to the United States in 1912 and that this country is a nation of immigrants who, regardless of where they came from, all share the common goal of striving to build the best world they can for their children, and themselves.
McDonnell acknowledged that with the nation's continued growing economy, lawful immigration is necessary to continue that growth.
As the chief law enforcement officer for the Commonwealth, McDonnell stressed that he is sworn to uphold the laws of Virginia made by the policymakers- the Virginia General Assembly.
McDonnell said the issue of illegal immigration must be addressed and that to do that the security of the country's borders must be improved, either by troops or a wall.
He said the nation must also have a "coherent, easy to understand and navigate" process for visas and guest workers and there must be better enforcement of the laws that are already on the books.
In concluding his remarks, McDonnell, a descendant of Irish Catholic immigrant just like Moran, stressed that he is a "strong supported of legal immigration." McDonnell and Moran then spent several minutes taking questions from members of the audience regarding issues such as in-state college tuition fro undocumented immigrants (McDonnell is opposed, Moran supports the "Dream Act" to make them eligible for in-state tuition).
They also heard Claudia Evans, a citizen of Honduras who is a legal resident seeking U.S. citizenship, tell of the difficult process she is going through.
Moran said the federal policymakers are deliberately making it hard for immigrants to become citizens and told Evans that her situation is not unique by any means.
