The East West Alliance holds panel offering information on immigration policy

The local group “The East West Alliance” held its second community forum Saturday at Mary Pickford Theater featuring a panel of speakers offering information current asylum and immigration law.

Dozens of people filled a movie theater Saturday morning not for the latest blockbuster, but to learn what they can do to help immigrant families.

“So much information was given that people do not know about,” said Patty Holzhauer, a local resident.

The event featured a diverse panel of attorneys, and other non-profit advocates who discussed the current state of affairs at the border and what locals here in the valley can do to help families impacted by current immigration policy.

“The education process is essential just getting to know what’s happening is really essential. I see the comments of people who are against it and it just shows that they don’t know what’s really happening,” said Hadley Bajramovic, an immigration attorney.

One featured group, Border Kindness, collects supplies, food, and clothing for families in need stuck in shelters at the border.

“The mission of border kindness is to provide comprehensive services like food, clothing, shelter and medical services to the displaced and to asylum seekers,” said Yolanda Brown, a volunteer with Border Kindness.

“The shelters are overflowing. people are coming here without appropriate clothing, food or shelter so border kindness goes to these facilities and helps welcome people, helps get them a nice meal, a blanket, a cot,” said Lynne O’Neill, a co-founder with the East West Alliance.

Speakers at the event also urged those who want to help, to get involved with groups locally — the Galilee Center, Border Kindness or to check with their local chapters of groups like the ACLU.

“Many of us are on the other side of the mountain. We spent our lives building our careers, our families and our houses and now we have to think about the things that we want to do in the next part of our lives that offer us meaning,” said O’Neill.