Colorado State of Mind: Immigration and Our Work Force

Since we announced our topic of immigration for our program beginning in January, we've drawn a good deal of attention from both the public and the media. Over the weekend, the Director of our program, Jim Griesemer, appeared on Colorado State of Mind on PBS. The show also hosted former Governor Dick Lamm, immigration attorney Amy DeVan, and the Director of HISMinistries, Rev. Stan Perea.

As host Cynthia Hessin explained, “the reform of U.S. immigration policy is still very high in the minds of many Americans, especially those employers who depend on imported labor, the activists who are alarmed at rising population numbers, and certainly with anyone who is concerned about whether current immigration law is being enforced.”

However, our policies and approaches toward the problem of immigration in the U.S. don’t have much coherence. The show’s guests all seemed to agree that there are several problems with immigration law as it stands.

In approaching the problem, though, “it seems to be a subject where everyone talks past everyone else,” said Jim. The multitude of competing opinions and viewpoints is part to blame for the lack of coherent immigration policy.

Cynthia asked Jim how next year’s Immigration Issues Panel plans to discuss the issue.

“[U]ltimately you can’t create any policy without some clarity in terms of what you’re trying to achieve. I think and hope that one of the things our panel will really focus on is “what are the goals?”…something has to be more important than something else, otherwise you end up with mutually exclusive outcomes. You have to decide what’s most important and I hope our panel will do that.”

Amy DeVan and Jim Griesemer

The Future of Immigration: Colorado and the Nation

On Friday, we officially announced our topic for next year: immigration. Without a doubt, immigration is one of the most difficult and challenging issues facing Colorado and the nation. Partly so because debate on the subject tends to spark passion without necessarily bringing to light the facts and reality surrounding this complex issue.

Watch the video of our announcement here

It is the goal of our program to find a pathway through this complicated issue. As an institution of higher learning, the University of Denver has a responsibility and an obligation, as Chancellor Coombe said, to address these types of key issues facing Colorado.

Our process includes assembling a non-partisan panel of accomplished and respected Colorado citizens who will discuss the issue based on the information they receive as a member of our panel. The result will be based on the consensus of this varied group, and our hope is that their findings and recommendations will provide a framework with which policy makers can address immigration.

Our program will bring in speakers who will present to the panel in meetings that will run from January to May. Our speakers include current and past state officials (Governor Ritter, Mayor Hickenlooper, Gov. Lamm, Gov. Owens), attorneys, law enforcement officials, advocates, hospital and school administrators, and business and labor representatives, among others. Our goal is to bring in speakers from all sides of the debate to present our panel with the facts on which to base their findings.

As Jim Griesemer, the Director of our program explained at the announcement, “The issue of immigration must be solved.” Our mission is to start with the problem rather than the solution.

Press Conference Announcing the 2009 Strategic Issues Program

Join us Friday, November 14, 2008 for our press conference announcing the 2009 Strategic Issues Program.

Where: West Foyer, Colorado State Capitol

When: 10:00am

Media and members of the public are encouraged to attend. Click here to RSVP.

Announcing the 2009 Strategic Issues Panel

We will announce the topic, panel members, speakers and schedule for next year's Strategic Issues Panel on Friday, November 14, 2008 at 10 a.m. at the Colorado State Capitol. More information will be posted soon!

Past panels have examined economic and fiscal issues facing the state, strategies for creating a sustainable water future, and processes for revising Colorado’s Constitution. (Click here to read past panel reports on these topics.)

As with past panels, next year's topic promises to address an important public policy issue facing Colorado and the nation as a whole.

While presentations are made to the panel members who will engage in discussions about the issue, the public and media are encouraged to attend and observe panel meetings. You must rsvp to attend a panel meeting.

Purpose of DU's Strategic Issues Program

Each year since 2004, the University of Denver has established a panel of distinguished Colorado citizens to examine an important public policy issue facing our state. Past panels have examined economic and fiscal issues facing the state, strategies for creating a sustainable water future, and processes for revising Colorado’s Constitution.

Whatever the topic, the purpose of all strategic issues panels is to study a critical public issue and provide non-partisan recommendations that raise the level of public awareness and provide a basis for informed policy deliberations. The goal is to raise the visibility of important issues with the media, legislators and the public and to develop thoughtful recommendations that reflect the collective insight of panel members. This is achieved through an open process of informed discourse and consensus-based decision making.

As an educational and research institution, the role of the University of Denver is to examine issues, raise the level of public awareness, and encourage informed public discussion. What the University does not do is advocate particular policy positions, even those recommended by the Strategic Issues Panels. In brief, the role of the University is to inform, not advocate.