Local event tackles immigration misconceptions, fears, and concerns
'I haven't found the perfect administration yet, whether it's a Democrat or a Republic in power,' Gennerman said. 'I thought things couldn't be worse, but here we are.'
Gennerman has been working in immigration law since 2003 and expressed frustration at the broken system, the current rhetoric, and the hundreds of immigration executive orders coming from the White House since January 20.
'I suddenly had to pick up the Constitution again and go, 'What are the rights, again, of individuals who are coming in at the border?'' she said. 'I didn't think I had to be a constitutional scholar, nor do I consider myself one.'
Gennerman spoke about what the challenges had been before, how the system was broken, and why so many immigrants have struggled to maneuver through the system before discussing the current hurdles, battles, and fears immigrants are facing today.
'I think people get wrapped up in a concept of 'Why can't people just do it the right way?'' she said.
'The idea of this is a system that if we just get in line and follow the rules, it would be very orderly, but it's a broken system. It has been for 20 years.'
She expressed that the complexity of the legal system is challenging enough for her to navigate.
'It's hard enough for me to digest what I think I've understood for 20 years, and then to relay that to the communities that I'm working with through interpreters [and] people crying. People are afraid. This is the reality of the communities that we are working with. Every community is feeling this in a very different way, and my job is to try to digest that and explain it along the way.'
Other panelists included John Rosenow, owner of Rosenholm Dairy; David Anderson, former pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and a member of the Immigration Task Force; and Elizabeth Hart, executive director of Literacy Chippewa Valley.
Several topics were discussed including immigrant farming, language barriers and challenges to getting a driver's license and the implications contained therein.
It was also mentioned during the question-and-answer session that so far more people have been deported under the Biden administration than the Trump administration, but that the approach the Trump administration is extremely concerning with the future uncertain.
The event was hosted by the League of Women Voters-Greater Chippewa Valley and co-sponsored with the American Association of University Women, JONAH, Literacy Chippewa Valley, and the Wisconsin Farmers Union.
The event took place at Immanuel Lutheran Church on Golf Road.
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