senate, secretary salazar gave evidence of his even-handed intelligence on the range of issues related to immigration. when he joined the bipartisan group of senators to construct a conference at immigration reform package, package after its passage in 2006 -- [inaudible] 10 years later the nation has yet to come to some consensus on immigration. secretary salazar will begin tonight by trying to make sense of the broad issues we as a nation are facing in the current immigration crisis and hopefully shed some light on why we remain log jammed a decade after his initial efforts at reform. ..

>> >> and draw from his own experiences in recent months especially for religious and civic designs especially those who come from impoverished backgrounds. tonight you will serve a

great deal. that we owe immigrant children and women the humanitarian emergency. and to start this off it is my pleasure to call to the podium secretary ken salazar. [applause] >> thank you very much for the introduction and to all of you who are here to discuss the issue of great importance but to the world. want to thank my panelist panelist, judge sarah burr and also the last time that i saw him we were working on this topic with the

obamacare administration so it is great for him to be here and all of you coming here together to figure out how we can move forward as a country and so this time in american history of a bebel overtime with immigration as a time of shame of the united states of america. that as a nation a beacon of hope and opportunity throughout the world somehow it is suffering in ways it seems incomprehensible into understand the national imperative of national

security in the values of this country and calling to move forward to comprehensive reform to the future. and now this impasse that is more than a decade they think history will look back at this time period to say america has been a place in the country and along the way there has been great pain and places we have seen our country deal with issues to come about in that time period of shame as secretary of interior with my public service such as the first

260 years but to the annihilation of native americans before that and how that was and still is the stain on america's consciousness. all the way from the brown vs. board of education decision barrasso that doctrine that had no place in our constitution but it was okay for us as a country to say we could pride ourselves black and brown and whites that is how times have changed. we did not recognize the rights of women but the

country has progressed we have made progress but we still have a long ways to go on this issue of immigration for us to take action as a country. and on this day you read the headlines and follow the immigration debate and what is happening in our country for this time of shame. some 12 million people live in the shadows of the society with the places america calls "america the beautiful" from sea to shining sea to live in the shadows of our society as they go across this country

they still have to live in the shadow of our society those were no one will work except for them they live in the shadow of american society and u.s. senator working with senator maquette kennedy and mccain and bush to move forward comprehensive reform package and visiting those meatpacking plants only -- over 1500 workers coming up to ask this is something important and a few weeks later those families were torn apart as there was a raid on the plant and children came home from school that afternoon they had seen their parents in the morning but they would

not see them for a long time because they would be separated. two's tell you story of -- after story and how we are caught in this shame and period of paralysis and we cannot move forward. i often ask myself what is it that keeps us from solving this problem? why is it 50,000 children and their families is essentially in jail to find a holding place in this country? with the people who were here in their own places but the issue of immigration reform with their families across the southern border

today represents the number one number -- issue of our time the number one civil rights and humanitarian issue of our time. we're not able to come to a way for word among this country. why is there such division? why would a republican president might george w. bush that i met with three or four days after 9/11 and president obama and others notwithstanding his efforts that were truly strong on behalf of a republican president working with the bipartisan coalition when we came back that they seem to falter even more?

so to remember the call from president bush from air force one asking if the final vote was taken and if it failed on the senate the second time around and he said this will not be solved on our watch. then this president barack obama, elected with a significant vote with the latino community with the immigration reform to be issues they he would resolve in the first year of his presidency but six years later we're still in the same place. both president bush and president obama are good people i worked closely with both of them and they're both my friends. they have the right kinds of values for the agenda to get a solution.

so a year at the center for a day -- at six ask yourself is a difficult issue to solve? i don't know if i know the answers. and the first is we as a country have a very shallow understanding of the immigration here in this country. most people do not know the history here is new york the u.s. secretary of the interior had the honor to visit the statue of liberty to open the crown and every time i would go i would think how our country became what this country became because of the immigrants were drawn here because of freedom and opportunity.

but there are those concluding my former colleagues in the senate that one to close the door behind them two's say we don't want those immigrants. those which have to come to this country for freedom and opportunity that somehow there were lesser human beings and that is cheering the u.s. house of representatives. i think that comes from the fact their representatives of the people and they still need to understand the true sang given up the opportunities we have because of the impact and the crisis that we see that education we will see in the years ahead as we describe a solution to this major problem.

second, i believe a significant reason begins comprehensive immigration reform is seen a phobia with respect to central america and latin america but my family came here in the southwestern part of this country and as president obama the last time he said remember then they came over the border as opposed to the other way around. he helped in new mexico 250 years before the conclusion. >> but yet look at the

immigration debate today it is about facts or eating a wall. but also think about where you said? mr. gorbachev take down this wall. what we do is invest between united states and our neighbors and in fact, that this bipartisan bill that was allocated to do more between united states and latin america even in the debate senator kennedy and john mccain were working

to build that bill of comprehension immigration reform but that there 5,000 miles between the senate and the u.s. from the walk from the north. but into looking at some of that truth and that history of the southwestern part is vanilli for the rio grande and the colorado river. and yet we get the history of this country and then who has done so much two's serve this country there are

historical and but it is all over to in my view, the news under -- the role that he should play? seven at november 2004 the first meeting with president bush vice president cheney. i said two's the president and one of the things he had to do was a foreign policy but three have forgotten the importance of the relationship. the president, president bush talks about efforts with their alliance for progress two's present --

president kennedy's vision was for all. and if somehow time after time president after president or republican or democrat failed to do that then those around immigration reform in my view to reflect a failed policy by the united states of america with respect to our neighbors to the south and we need to reexamine that as we move forward with immigration reform. they are central elements that contribute to the impasse of today. now as i look i know there will be a time between this november with additional action and taken to be in universities across the

country what we can look forward to in my humble opinion i thank you can look forward but i hope does the president but to make sure the native states these juppe told the moral and economic values of this country with executive action. we must remember that those are short-term actions and then the council two's the governor a were closely with any executive order can be undone by the ex-president what needs to happen we need to fix the immigration lot

through comprehension -- comprehensive reform and the congress needs to be involved in that effort. when we see bold leadership from the united states congress after november or will we not? class decade has not shown us pull the leadership that we can look ahead looking at the senate leaders will create a new package going forward. and my third area is to make sure that we have those involved for the next chapter of civil-rights but

it is a kind of leadership team even evangelical organization. headed by my good friends friends, that kind of leadership that will ultimately appeal to have a better consensus on reform. i have a long way to go. issues at stake are so important economic issues for our country but they are so involved to make sure we have the right talent here in this country that is why the groups and so many others what issues and also national security to think

about who was coming in and data of the country. but it is also a national comparative to reassure re get right to yes it is a time of shame we have to recognize that in the united states but there have been others that led us to a tough times that we as a country have come out much better on the other end of the debate and that will happen here as well as a reminder where the president to rise ago had they honor in california to become a

part of that national park system of civil rights for the farmworkers and their prayer for the farmworkers that he says let me know the plight of the most miserable so i will know my people's plight. and having the courage two's serve others i am reminded of dr. king and of the african-american monument. on the national mall of united states of washington d.c. i had the honor to move that project along. one of them is the ark of the universe with the market

is long. the arc of the universe is long but it will bend to justice. the issue of immigration immigration, children and families at the border is one such issue. and you will hang on to try to help this country in the leaders to understand the importance of a system of immigration reform in this country is one of those imperatives to fulfill the vision of dr. king of the moral universe to lou justice. thank you very much. [applause]

>> good evening i am pleased to join into this conversation and to be invited to speak this evening. what do we go to the emigre you stand families? forum -- from my perspective from sitting on the bench we owe them to process of lot and it is a very simple phrase and it is ambiguous and it has a lot of history going back to the magnetic card at. it is enshrined in the constitution to the 14th amendment. and what is due process of though lot? i believe it means fundamental fairness to all

persons from civil and criminal. let me just make that distinction between civil and criminal purpose immigration proceedings are civil proceedings and they are not criminal proceedings integration and proceedings proceedings, due process has the right to to have in a notice of the charges with the right to an attorney of your choice do defend yourself or contest the evidence against you or the right to an impartial arbiter which is the judge and to appeal if you disagree with the decision. the criminal cases the bet

in civil cases you are entitled to the attorney of your choice but the government has no obligation to provide you with a free attorney. you have to go get your own lawyer. with a juvenile cases and those 18 years and younger, what side to counsel because how can how can we mount a defense were two's question the evidence.

>> particularly they are young and considered to be incompetent. so somebody else made understand the churches but can we tell her story in court and what date deal with with that issue of trafficking there are children who come through immigration court who are brought to the country to work there being trafficked for working or the sex trade.

so the child should not only have to do whole -- deal with the vulnerability but the possibility to have a young person who is being trafficked. had immigration judges deal with these dilemmas? the only thing i am cognizant of with real practical experience, the immigration in court to set up a docket of the out to unused ago and decided that that they needed to be separated from the general population the there are four changes in new city

from our a young grand more impressionable group of people judges can now where a rome they cannot out where their energy into court to to deal with the children and friend to death them. so asking this show the and options. generally a dozen judges try as hard as possible to make the proceedings stress free. but all that is important but the most important thing is the children be represented by an attorney.

we are very lucky in new york city because we have a number of legal aid providers with law schools and legal age groups and thanks to all of their efforts the children who appear in immigration court or all represented by lawyers -- children by lawyers. [laughter] that would be interesting. i would say that we are lucky. real lucky to have the commitment along the community of new york city to provide due process two's these children? but this is not parts where

there was innervation court and some a when there is virtually no access to manage trade but there is even truer looted. >> but the real issue but had rigo to a ford to presses to -- we go to afford the process to. but we are judged on how we treat the weakest among us. and society through congress has authorized a juvenile to

receive a full and fair hearing. i believe a full and fair hearing for june niles necessarily requires the appointment of free counsel to all children. thank you very much. [applause] >> thank-you for a center of religion and culture secretary salazar and judge sarah burr i could add agree more with the last comments think as you mean and moral society should provide a free and legal counsel for

all children. the question i would ask is what do we owe the immigrant families? why would day event like dash you bet -- you buy a jesuit two's speak on this issue? [laughter] it is because it is not lost on me as the tenth anniversary for the center of religion and culture in many faith groups including the immigration table that i am a part of the u.s. conference of catholic bishops the hebrew immigration aid society and so many others for 10 years provided a faith based moral response to the immigration crisis. we don't establish laws but we do advocate for justice.

the only way you can change though lot from what we perceive for those who have a moral purpose is to create the change one of my mentors said. [speaking spanish] if you want to change some of what you need to change the culture. many politicians before th vote they will stick their finger in though wind. it is depending on which way the wind is blowing. so it is up to the face leaders to create the changes but i will begin with what has beenne name a fewe

organization's letter advocating vigorously for a comprehensive immigration reform. it is not two's the country once immigration reform? it does. every survey but two-thirds of americans want it. every major has advocated for immigration reform. you should call your meetings bbb with bibles and business leaders that includes the head of u.s. chamber of commerce. that progressive group sumy he advocated for emigration

and wind year-ago it was the senate's bipartisan ball - - to pass comprehensive but immigration reform but the question is not that it now is why aren't the leaders meeting? i submit there are several but this argument is not making headway. recently.

>> but they're not leaning heavily enough in the direction that the president asked for help at the border. one of the conversations that we were a part of it, with my heart is to track the victim's reauthorization act for over 50,000 children coming to the southwest border of the united states contingent of repealing the trafficking victims reauthorization act protecting children coming

from el salvador. the virtual domination this places but what would make us turn children away who were fleeing violence and in the same breath as people in the middle east to take over 1 million refugees in syria? it is as if we have historical and misha as if lazarists never spoke to us. premier huddled masses i submit to you is the

stronger moral defense of children everywhere. i submit to you what we owe them is common sense and comprehensive immigration reform and we cannot say revalue family is and then deport parents to another part of the world. and at worst it is hypocritical at best in his system and. you may save you are the evangelicals? much to my pleasure a growing number that they have advocated publicly and privately the national association of evangelicals has signed documents we want common-sense reform that insurers for security and unification second to, we

chose a truce to the american public. of the argument that somehow immigrants lot of the apocalypse of the u.s. economy when the bipartisan policy center nearby condoleezza rice has said that immigration reform is a $1 billion boom to the u.s. economy but those frivolous arguments are falling apart but yet we still don't have common sense and comprehensive immigration reform. this is a moral and spiritual issue. to'' the greatest teacher

what is the highest kurtis comprehensive immigration reform yes i see it resting jesus. a great teacher. gained anabatic is have we are translated through the ethnicities. but of all those that come before a guide to be judged by god, but i was a stranger

teaching government. and the nation's and aunts you did but from what we do to the immigrants is what we do to ourselves not just what we owe the youth and families but what do we owe the country? secretary salazar quoted president kennedy. everybody is known for to gray books one is "profiles in courage".

courage is in high demand. the second is a nation of immigrants immigration built the nation and then we don't invest in the future our prosperity of the nation? second year is a wonderful greek word for hospitality and the new testament. it says and i went to seminary that introduced me to other versions. [laughter] but do we not forget to gain - - game. but to say it is pretty hospitable to strangers and though word for strangers?

love of the stranger. so to be consistent it is not just the rich diversity of immigrants we just not want to be tolerated we want to be celebrated. people have said we can it is not economically viable. as the words of st. to guston ring clue to us. but the triumph of pragmatism lead two's this because there were bright and to put morality but

everything he does is with an executive order. but for us to treat these children we need but with the moral values and commitments? and we are children of god. thank-you. [applause] >>nks for your wonderful presentations and we divide our event into two parts but

then it to be tonight moving forward we have an emmy award winning journalist here and a the co-host of the weekend edition but it's not only in the television and media but in print from the "los angeles times" ended as been a pleasure to come to the podium tonight. [applause] >> i did have a broadcast i was just a few minutes late but i heard most of salazar's presentation and

even a few more seconds late because i insist on combing my hair. [laughter] but this laboratory of learning of many questions as what we want to get to and we will but trying to frame a couple of dialogue points not provoking debate the son of the issues and secretary salazar, you said this is nothing short of the civil-rights movement. as a humanitarian issue facing us right now set to change the law we need to change the culture so those who want immigration reform

show you how to get there i did some digging looking at the inaction abc in "washington post" did a poll that said many want comprehensive immigration reform but they cannot agree how that should take place. but in colorado and our congressman but he may have had something to do with that. [laughter] >> thank you very much david.

the fact there is a lot going on in the world today with the issues of the middle east and ukraine and other things that distract with the issue itself will not go away the sting of a broken border of broken immigration system, 12 million people living in the shadows shadows, 50,000 children and families living in detentions and growing by the end of the year so the drum beat for change is something that will continue like most advances with the civil-rights of this country to get them but i am confident it will happen and i will also say i have been involved in politics and this is not a political forum but how people define a comprehensive reform package requires the

citizenry to see what they are talking about. but the difference between the two candidates is night and day. is important from the chamber of commerce to the evangelicals that they really understand what it is we are debating with this important matter. >> you can take the of bully pulpit. >> but it falls on deaf ears >> i think as of pastor i transact and hope. anything takes time you have to have the capacity. so let's get that anti-apartheid movement that taught us that the women's suffrage two's and we have a

great history lesson. but it will come to the fore. we elect leaders to solve problems. i don't know how much longer the u.s. public will tolerate gridlock around some of the most intractable problems of our day. the problem with the children on the border is directly related but it failed of foreign policy of development in latin america. but one guy asked me what would you do for living? he said any solution must. what we look for in the house and the senate and be

mindful in authority passed something one year-ago. there was some movement but in january the speaker said he had some principles laid out. but when will we have you have leaders who don't solve problems? i think it will come to the four. >> also the white house as well? >> remember the number 71. the percentage of hispanics who voted for obama. one of my favorite numbers. [laughter]

we will see with executive actions so clearly they have voiced discontent with the lack of inaction with congressman gutierrez is about after the midterm elections where the latino electorate is on this issue. >> at not want to exclude you. >> that don't think there is anything i could add but then but to be there with the children. but people here the social net or the social and for structure is under strain if we have unchecked processes

and we raised that flag but you play it out herself. [laughter] that we did raise the red flag to say we're having a tough time. so framed that discussion the idea that people in a genuinely worried to say yes that was just blood of strain on the system if you understand historically we are underfunded and that is a problem.

immigration is so political. there is the inability to think through the consequences of stopping people to put them in proceedings and then to have that was the thinking strew. who are you now in a court before a judge is in a system that is operating to the best of its ability that is greatly underfunded and understaffed for the number of cases. generally this is true now is at the forefront with the incredible number of children in proceedings.

i would say this is nothing new for immigration in court but this prompted is highlighted. >> but to make two points is the issue of the impact and consequence of undocumented children in the united states and it has been long debated. with my time working on this comes in the form of the negative for the united states of america immigration and even with the chamber of commerce and leaders of the business will see that positive economic impact with the system to attract work.

but i do sphinx that whole issue but pulling up for the immigration -- immigration has that flag that the border is broken when need to build more walls. and they use that but look at what is happening today in guatemala and honduras and el salvador most of the bid children and families are coming from their living in very dire conditions. there is a reality there that the manifestation is a failed policy over multiple administrations over multiple decades for the united states of america and the relationship with latin

america. >> as a pastor of element. and i mean it in a basic jewish chris gent tradition. to have the issue as has been said is a consequence of inaction we're dealing with the 21st century immigration challenge with 20th century emigration laws. so it seems every bloody nose the system is broken then when the manifestations

but intellectually and humanly speaking this argument about economics with very few exceptions of a conservative columnist and on fox news or one of the news channels we to easily integrate the 50,000 children into the system. but i think you are right that it is a red herring that morally speaking even if the good cost more, i have to go with what cost more because it is the right thing to do. . . man