Nebraska Immigration Webcast Replay Click here Air dates: Dec. 13, 2007 at 7 p.m. CT on NET1 Dec. 16, 2007 at 12 p.m. CT on NET1 Dec. 20, 2007 at 9 p.m. CT on NET2 Dec. 22, 2006 at 8 p.m. CT on NET2

How should Nebraska address the challenges and opportunities brought on by a new wave of immigrants who made their way to our state?  It is the question a cross section of Nebraskans tackled during the latest By The People discussion organized by NET Television and the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center.

Many states have considered legislation and policy in response to the large and established population of immigrants in their communities.  There are issues relating to education, health care, law enforcement and even culture affecting the newest citizens, those working their way through the system, and those who do not have the documents required by our government to be in this country.

While much of the nation has focused its immigration debate on controlling our borders and who should be allowed to stay in the United States, this By The People discussion hoped to focus on the impact immigration has on our local communities.  How much of an impact?  Immigrants account for 60 percent of the state’s population growth in the last five years.  These new residents have brought new economic life to some communities and created budget woes for some of their school districts.

The Nebraskans taking part in these discussions were recruited at random through phone calls made by our partner, the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center.  They gathered on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  There were By The People discussions going on in 11 different cities around the country.  While the topics varied at each location, there was a common theme:  200 years after “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” was written into our Constitution, what does it mean for Americans today?

BE A PART OF THE DISCUSSION!
If you’d like more information about local issues related to immigration, take a look at the background study guide provided the participants before the discussion.  Feel free to use this guide as a way to get a discussion going in your school, church, or community organization!

Click here to view or download the background study guide

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Support for NET Television’s By The People  project is provided by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions.  Ongoing project funding partners include the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.