TODAY ON VOICES OF OUR WORLD JOIN US AS WE SPEAK WITH TWO GUESTS WHO HAVE WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA, USING THEIR FAITH AND THEIR PERSONAL HISTORIES TO HELP BOTH IMMIGRANTS, AND THEIR NEW HOST COMMUNITIES HERE IN THE U.S., REACH A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BASED ON RESPECT, SHARING, AND PRIDE.  STAY TUNED AS WE SPEAK WITH PASTOR JEFF JOHNSON OF THE UNIVERSITY LUTHERAN CHAPEL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY; AND BELEN SEARA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PUEBLO IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.

AS THE HIGH-DECIBEL, BUT OFTEN LOW-BROW, DEBATE OVER IMMIGRATION REFORM IN THE UNITED STATES PROMISES TO DRAG ON THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS AND INTO ELECTION SEASON, MANY PUNDITS AND POLITICIANS WILL UNFAILINGLY DEMOGOGUE THE ISSUE FOR POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY. BUT TOO OFTEN LOST IN OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM ARE WORDS LIKE MORALITY, COMPASSION, FAITH, PRAGMATISM, AND EQUALITY... HAS THE TENDENCY TO VIEW OUR IMMIGRATION POLICY THROUGH THE PRISMS OF BORDER SECURITY AND NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY BLINDED US TO THE HUMANITY OF THOSE SIMPLY SEEKING A BETTER, AND SAFER, LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES??