Future Forum | Mar, 19 2024 6:30PM - 8:45PM
Comprehensive immigration reform had eluded American lawmakers for almost four decades. Meanwhile, encounters at the Texas–Mexico border had risen to nearly 2.5 million in the previous fiscal year, surpassing all earlier records*. Senate Bill 4 was passed by the Texas legislature in the fall, signed by Governor Abbott in December, and scheduled to go into effect on March 5, but it was later put on hold for violating the U.S. Constitution while an appeals court reviewed it. The bill created a state crime for illegally crossing the border from Mexico and established a state process for the removal of migrants.
Guests gathered for a discussion on immigration reform in the aftermath of Senate Bill 4.
Confirmed speakers included:
- Uriel García, Immigration Reporter, The Texas Tribune
- Faye Kolly, Immigration Attorney, McChesney Kolly PLLC
- J. Michael Treviño, Houston Organizer, American Immigration Council
- Stephen Vladeck, Charles Alan Wright Chair in Federal Courts at the University of Texas School of Law
Moderator: Linda Lorelle, Lorelle Media and series co-founder
Concluding remarks were offered by Stan Marek, President and CEO of Marek Family of Companies.
The program was part of Civil Dialogues, a joint initiative between the George & Barbara Bush Foundation, the Clinton Presidential Center, and the LBJ Foundation that aimed to facilitate dialogue on important issues facing the nation. Each attendee left with a deeper understanding of the topic’s nuances while feeling seen, heard, and empowered to continue the conversation. A previous event in the series had been held at the Baker Institute at Rice University on February 27, 2024.
