Utah Tech University’s Institute of Politics hosted ICE — A Community Conversation Feb. 17 in the Holland Centennial Commons Library, welcoming students and community members to discuss immigration policy, enforcement and the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
IOP invited four panelists — two Republicans and two Democrats — to speak at the event.
The Republican panelists were Shavene Butler and Willie Billings. The Democrat panelists were Susan Broberg, who’s a local attorney, and Jorge Pineda.
Panelists answered moderator questions during the first hour of the event. The final 30 minutes were reserved for audience questions directed to both parties.
Panelists emphasized that immigration is a complex, long-standing issue. ICE has existed for about 20 years, Broberg said.
IOP’s organizers also invited representatives from the local ICE agency to attend. ICE agents did not attend.
Republican perspective
Republican speakers emphasized the importance of following the law, cooperation between police and ICE, and understanding the history of the immigration system.
“If you are going to be a citizen in this country, then you need to abide by the laws,” Billings said. “We are a nation of laws and we follow those laws.”
Butler said some people blame President Donald Trump for policies created by Congress.
“They are attacking a system that’s been in play by Congress,” Butler said. “Congress is the ones who set the rules in place.”
The police have been working with ICE and will ticket anyone who honks at an ICE agent, an IOP commentator said.
“If somebody drives by and honks at ICE and they get pulled over and get a ticket, that’s excessive,” Billings said.
Billings said cooperation between ICE and local police can help identify individuals more effectively.
Immigration has been a long-term issue across multiple presidential administrations, Butler said.
“Clinton — two million were deported, no protest,” Butler said. “Barack Obama — five million, no protest.”
Americans need to build the economy, Billings said.
“There are jobs we need to be willing to do and there are people who do them,” Billings said. “The immigration issue causes economic strain not just housing and wages, it is across the board that we can’t even count them.”
Democrat perspective
Democratic speakers focused on acknowledging the system is challenging, how our current President affects the system and economic concerns.
Broberg said the process of becoming a U.S. citizen can be difficult.
“It is the reality that we live within a system that does not work for what we want,” Broberg said.
“It is the American public’s best interest to provide a humane route to citizenship, but also to provide a humane route for detainment,” Pineda said. “Currently, we are prioritizing prolonged detainment as opposed to removal.”
Pineda said many detained immigrants in Washington County face prolonged detention without criminal charges.
As a response to a statement the other side made, Broberg made the point that President Trump funded the Big Beautiful Bill.
“We have to talk about him because he’s made this immigration,” Broberg said. “He is the one that put in a $75 million budget into the Big Beautiful Bill for immigration department of Homeland Security.”
Economics was a topic for discussion on both sides. Pineda had brought up points about economic issues, specifically the issue of how our economy will be hurt in the long-run.
“Our economy is going to suffer when it comes to labor stagnation,” Pineda said.
Audience questions
Audience members asked questions about ICE agents wearing masks and whether the practice could affect civil rights.
Butler answered that statement with the argument that during the time of segregation, the police acted the same way as ICE and didn’t have a mask on.
“I kind of take offense that this is now something that is on the ICE agents who are protecting themselves with these masks,” Butler said. “They are doing everything they can to protect their families.”
One woman in the audience asked if there should be a limit on immigrants.
“I think our society in general would cease to exist if we didn’t have undocumented citizens who are doing the jobs that Americans aren’t trying to do,” Butler said.
Pineda argued that there shouldn’t be a limit on immigrants because people come to America for our liberal ideals.
The panelists agreed that immigration policy needs improvement and that immigrants play an important role in the United States. Billings closed the event by encouraging cooperation despite political differences.
“We’re citizens. We’re human beings. We have disagreements, but there’s far more that we agree upon; we need to focus on that,” Billings said. “Focus on how we can fix things, instead of how we can’t. Be that type of person.”
