IMMIGRATION REFORM BY CONGRESS TO BE DISCUSSED AT TOWN HALL

Los Angeles, CA ??" Thursday, March 29, 2007 ??" Town Hall Los Angeles presents a panel addressing current immigration reform bills pending in Congress at the Omni Hotel. Angelenos are encouraged to ask panelists about the current status of immigration legislation and how it will affect our region.

The Honorable L. Howard Berman, Congressman, 28^th District (CA-D), US House of Representatives is the keynote and moderator. Panelists include Shawn Steel, former Chairman, California Republican Party (2001-2003) and Arturo Vargas, Executive Director, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

In 2006, there were approximately 11.5 to 12 million undocumented people in the United States with nearly 2 million being children. Discussing the American Dream Act Berman said, ???This bill would remove barriers confronted by young undocumented students who, as children, were brought to this country illegally???They consider themselves Americans. But their future is limited so long as they have no legal status."

Berman is Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property, a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee. In 1973, Berman was elected to the California State Assembly, where he served until 1982, when he was elected to Congress.

In 2007, Steel said that immigration is ???one of the greatest underground political fuses of our time. He was elected Chairman of the California Republican Party in 2001 and served until 2003. Near the end of his term, Steel co-chaired the Recall Davis Movement.

Vargas is Executive Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) and executive director of the NALEO Educational Fund. Prior to joining NALEO, Vargas held positions at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. He was also a senior education policy analyst at the National Council of La Raza.

For 70 years, Town Hall Los Angeles has promoted civic participation, pride, and awareness. As a nonpartisan and nonprofit forum, we encourage a public discussion on issues of regional, national, and international significance. To be informed on issues impacting California, join Town Hall.

All members of the media are invited to cover this event. **Please credit Town Hall Los Angeles in your coverage.

When: Wednesday, April 4, 2007, 8:00 AM Registration, 8:30 AM Address and Q&A

Where: The Omni Los Angeles Hotel, 251 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Note to reporters and editors: The organization uses the full name Town Hall Los Angeles. Please do not make generic as in ???town hall.

Media RSVP to Deborah Weinberg at Town Hall Los Angeles 213.312.9307 or [email protected].