ECC students to welcome immigration debate

Presidential candidates aren't the only ones debating crucial American issues these days.

Elgin Community College's Organization for Latin American Students will host an immigration debate and forum April 29.

"We're really trying to come at this from an unbiased point of view. We want to let the community know there are two sides to the issue," said Gabriel Alvarado, a club member and ECC student from Hanover Park.

Squaring off will be Joshua Hoyt, the executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and Brian R. Perryman, former district director for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. ECC speech instructor Marta Walz will serve as moderator.

Event organizers, Alvarado said, have been collecting questions from ECC students and faculty for the past month.

"Nothing's off topic," said Juan Garduno, a member of the Latin American group and ECC student from Elgin. "We're going to try to cover a little bit of everything -- immigration issues involving education, the economy, and immigration law."

After the debate an immigration attorney will be available for one-on-one advice, Garduno said.

Despite their unbiased approach, the Latin American organization's members do expect some protesters, Alvarado said.

ECC security guards and Elgin police officers will be there in case anything gets out of hand.

The Chicago Minuteman project does not intend to protest, Director Rick Biesada said.

"The point of this isn't to incite anger," Garduno said. "It's to put more of a focus on the immigration debate so it can be resolved."

Immigration forum

When: 7 p.m. April 29

Where: Elgin Community College's Advanced Technology Center auditorium

Cost: Free

Info: (847) 697-1000