>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION. >> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE. EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STATE
VOTING MAPS ARE IN. AND THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
WILL HAVE THE FINAL WORD ON WHICH MAPS BECOME LAW.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG. TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
CLOSER LOOK AT THE DISTRICT LINES TO BE VOTED ON BY THE
SUPREME COURT. THEN, HOW A SMALL COMMUNITY IS
ADAPTING TO A SUDDEN INFLUX OF MIGRANTS, AND THE REALITY OF
POLICIES AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER. AND FINALLY, ANALYSIS ON THE
LONG-TERM IMPACTS OF WANING ACCESS TO RURAL HIGHER
EDUCATION. IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUARY
2. >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
>> WISCONSIN IS ON COURSE TO HAVE NEW VOTING MAPS IN SHORT
ORDER. LATE THIS WEEK, CONSULTANTS
HIRED BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT REJECTED TWO OF THE MAP
SUBMISSIONS AS BEING PARTISAN GERRYMANDERS AND SAID THE REST
COULDN'T MEET MUSTER WITH THE HIGH COURT.
FOR DETAILS ON THIS, WE TURN TO ZAC SCHULTZ AT THE CAPITOL.
SO WHICH TWO MAPS REPRESENT PARTISAN GERRYMANDER, ACCORDING
TO THESE CONSULTANTS? >> THE FEST ONE SHOULDN'T COME
AS ANY SURPRISE AND THAT IS THE REPUBLICAN MAP, THE REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATORS' MAP, WHICH IS THE MOST CLOSELY RELATED TO THE
CURRENT MAPS THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT THE SUPREME COURT ALREADY
SAID WERE GERRYMANDERED. THE OTHER MAPS ARE FROM WHAT'S
CALLED THE JOHNSON INTERVENORS, WHICH ARE MAPS DRAWN BY THE
WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND LIBERTY, OR W.I.L., A
CONSERVATIVE LAW FIRM. THEE HEDGED THEIR BEATS BETWEEN
SOME OF THE MAPS DRAWN BY THE MORE LIBERAL OR DEMOCRATIC
GROUPS IN THIS CASE AND THEIR LEGISLATORS' MAPS, BUT STILL
PRETTY MUCH MADE FOR A SLAM DUNK MAJORITY FOR THEIR MAPS IF
ADOPTED. >> IT'S SOMETHING CONSULTANTS
CALLED STEALTH GERRYMANDERING, I THINK, IN THEIR REPORT?
>> YEAH. AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE W.I.L.
MAPS MET ALL OF THE CRITERIA THAT ARE DETERMINED BY THE STATE
CONSTITUTION. THEY'RE CONTIGUOUS, THEY KEPT
MOST OF THE MUNICIPAL COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST
TOGETHER, THE POPULATION, ALL THOSE THINGS WERE THERE, BUT
THEY STILL WERE DRAWN IN A WAY THAT WERE PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEED
REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES AND, IN SOME CASES, SUPER MAJORITIES.
>> AND SO THE CONSULTANT'S VIEW ON THIS IS NOT SETTING WELL WITH
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, SAYING THEIR MAPS WERE REJECTED BECAUSE
THEY DIDN'T PRODUCE DEMOCRATIC OUTCOMES THAT THIS COURT WANTS.
>> WELL, I THINK THEY'RE SPEAKING TO THEIR AUDIENCE,
THEIR BASE, THEIR DONORS AND POSSIBLY HOPING TO SPEAK TO THE
U.S. SUPREME COURT WHERE THEY'RE HOPING THIS APPEAL WILL BE HEARD
AND THEN ONE OF THEIR TWO PREFERRED MAPS WOULD ULTIMATELY
BE CHOSEN BY THE HIGH COURT IN THE LAND.
BUT THE HONEST REALITY IS THAT EVERY INDEPENDENT ANALYST, EVERY
EXPERT, MOST PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND THIS ISSUE HAVE
LOOKED AT THESE MAPS FOR THE LAST DECADES PLUS IS THEY FAVOR
REPUBLICANS. QUESTION.
WAS THE TWO-THIRDS SUPERMAJORITY IN THE SENATE ENTIRELY A
GERRYMANDER? PROBABLY NOT, WHAT THE EXPERTS
SAY IS THAT BUT A SOLID PORTION OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE
GERRYMANDER THAT WAS DRAWN INTO FAVOR REPUBLICANS IN DISTRICTS
THAT WERE GUARANTEED TO ELECT THEM.
>> SO AS TO THE OTHER FOUR MAPS FROM DEMOCRATS AND OTHERS, THE
EXPERTS DEEMED THEM NOT PARTISAN GERRYMANDERS BUT IS NOT
NECESSARILY PERFECT, EITHER. >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT.
THERE WERE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ALL FOUR MAPS.
THE EXPERTS, MOST OF THEIR 25-PAGE REVIEW WAS ACTUALLY
SCORING IN THEIR ANALYSIS OF ALL THE DIFFERENT MAPS ACCORDING TO
A NUMBER OF RHETORIC RUBRICS, MOSTLY LOOK AT PARTISAN
FAIRNESS, WHICH IS KIND OF THE NEW STANDARD THAT THIS COURT HAS
INTRODUCED FOR THIS PROCESS TO SAY IN A 50/50 TOP OF THE BALLOT
STATE, WHICH IS WHAT WISCONSIN IS, WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST FAIR
OUTCOME AND HOW WOULD THAT BE REPRESENTED BY HOW THE DISTRICTS
LOOKED AND THEY SAID THAT ACCORDING TO SOME ANALYSIS OPTED
ONE, LOOKING AT ALL THE OLD ELECTIONS FOR THE PAST SEVEN
YEARS, THIS MAP WAS BETTER, THAT MAP WAS A LITTLE BETTER OVER
HERE, SO DIFFERENT SCORES FOR DIFFERENT AREAS BUT OTHERWISE
ROUGHLY THE SAME, NONE OF THEM STOOD OUT WELL AND ABOVE TO THE
OTHERS, SO THEY SAID THE SUPREME COURT CAN PICK FROM THEM IF THEY
WANT. >> SO THE CONSULTANTS ALSO
REJECTED REPUBLICAN CLAIMS THAT MAJORITIES IN THE LEGISLATURE
ARE DUE TO DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT BEING CONCENTRATED IN CITIES
WHILE THE G.O.P. HAS THIS BROADER SUPPORT OUT-STATE.
THE CONSULTANT SAT SAID GEOGRAPS NOT DESTINY.
UNPACK THIS FOR US. >> THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD
OVER AND OVER, AND WE'VE REPORTED ON FOR YEARS.
THERE IS A GEOGRAPHIC BIAS FOR REPUBLICANS IN WISCONSIN.
THE QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH. IN A NEUTRAL, FAIR MAP, WE'VE
HAD EXPERTS FROM THE UW SAY THAT REPUBLICANS WOULD WIN SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 50 AND 55 SEATS IN AN AVERAGE YEAR IF THE MAPS WERE
ALL DRAWN FAIRLY, AND IN THIS CASE, THE EXPERT SAID THAT THAT
WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT BUT YOU CAN MAKE
FAIR MAPS WITHOUT HAVING EVERYTHING TILTED ONE WAY, SO IT
SHOULDN'T GIVE THE REPUBLICANS 66 SEATS IN T IN THE ASSEMBLY, T
MAYBE 50, WHICH IS JOE BIDEN AS IT HAPPENS IN THIS BODY.
>> SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW? >> THERE IS ONE WEEK FOR THE
PLAINTIFFS TO FILE THEIR RESPONSES TO THE EXPERTS.
THAT'S DUE NEXT THURSDAY. AFTER THAT, THE COURT COULD ASK
THE EXPERTS TO DRAW OR ADJUST. THE EXPERTS DID NOT SUBMIT THEIR
OWN VERSION SAYING THAT THE FOUR MAPS THAT THEY PROPOSED THAT
WERE IN THERE WERE GOOD ENOUGH BUT THEY CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IF
THE COURT WANTS. THE COURT COULD NARROW IT DOWN,
IT COULD MAKE A DECISION. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER
THAT. >> THE CONSULTANTS SAID THEY
COULD TAKE A CRACK AT MAKING THESE MAPS IN SHORT ORDER.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> ALL RIGHT.
ZAC SCHULTZ, THANKS VERY MUCH. >> THANKS, FRED.
>> IN OTHER NEWS, WHITEWATER MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES LAST
MONTH AFTER A BREITBART NEWS STORY CLAIMED A THOUSAND
MIGRANTS HAD BEEN DROPPED ON THE CITY.
BUT OFFICIALS SAY THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS MUCH MORE
COMPLICATED. DENZIN, HAS MORE.
>> OUR CASE HERE IN WHITEWATER IS VERY UNIQUE.
>> I STARTED NOTICING THE WAY THE MIGRANTS PROBABLY -- IT WAS
DURING THE PANDEMIC. >> WHITE IMMIGRANTS IMMIGRATE TO
PLACES IS BECAUSE AS HUMANS, WE ARE LOOKING FOR A BETTER LIFE.
>> Reporter: WHITEWATER HAS SEEN A WAVE OF MIGRATION FROM
THE SOUTHERN BORDER WITH MEXICO OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, BUT
THIS CASE IS NOT LIKE RECENT HEADLINES WHERE IMMIGRANTS ARE
BEING CHARTERED TO NORTHERN COMMUNITIES LIKE CHICAGO.
>> I'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK, OKAY, WHERE ARE THE BUSES
DROPPING PEOPLE OFF. THAT'S NOT HAPPENING HERE.
>> IT WAS LIKE 50 AT FIRST AND THEN IT WAS LIKE ANOTHER 50 AND
SO IT WASN'T LIKE A MASSIVE RUSH.
>> BUT NOW CITY OFFICIALS SUSPECT THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 800
TO A THOUSAND MIGRANTS FROM NICARAGUA AND VENEZUELA IN
WHITEWATER. CITY.
THE 2020 CENSUS INDICATED THAT ABOUT 15,000 PEOPLE LIVE THERE.
NEARLY 8 TO 10,000 OF THOSE ARE STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY.
>> THE EARLIEST WE REALLY NOTICED IT WAS, I WOULD SAY,
EARLY 2022. >> Reporter: DAN MEYER IS THE
CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE CITY OF WHITEWATER.
>> WE HAD A FAMILY THAT WAS FOUND IN A 10X10 SHED DURING THE
WINTERTIME, SO JANUARY OF 2022, SO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS THAT BEFORE THEY GOT TO WISCONSIN,
MANY OF THE MIGRANTS LIKELY HAD CONTACT WITH BORDER PATROL.
>> THE WAY THE BORDER POLICIES WORK CURRENTLY IS THAT WHEN
SOMEONE CROSSES, CUSTOMS IDENTIFIES THEM AND ASKS THEM IF
THERE IS A SPONSOR FAMILY THAT CAN TAKE THEM IN.
SO IF SOMEBODY IS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT SPONSOR FAMILY AND
THEY CAN CONFIRM THAT, THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY PROVIDED
TRANSPORTATION TO THAT SPONSOR FAMILY.
THE U.S., THEY'RE TECHNICALLY IN DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS, BUT
WITH A SPONSOR FAMILY, THEY'RE RELEASED UNTIL THEIR FIRST COURT
DATE. SEVERAL YEARS IN THE FUTURE DUE
TO A HUGE BACKLOG OF CASES. THEY CAN THEN SPONSOR OTHER
FAMILIES THAT THEY KNOW. THE RESULT IS A PYRAMID EFFECT
WHERE MANY FAMILIES FROM A SMALL AREA IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH
AMERICA HAVE COME TO WHITEWATER. >> BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO GET
OUT OF REALLY UNSAFE SITUATIONS AND THERE'S WORK TO BE HAD.
THERE'S SPICE FACTORIES, SOD FARMS, CHICKEN FARMS.
>> Reporter: BRIENNE IS A MEMBER OF THE WHITEWATER
COUNCIL. NICARAGUA AND VENEZUELA ARE IN
VIOLENT UPHEAVAL, DRIVING THOSE PEOPLE INTO AMERICA.
>> WHAT THEY WERE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS IF THEY WALK DOWN THE
STREET, THEY HAD TO HAVE A STACK OF CASH IN THEIR POCKETS BECAUSE
THEY WERE ALWAYS HAVING TO PAY SOMEBODY OFF TO STAY SAFE.
>> Reporter: THEIR LEGAL LIMBO MAKES LIFE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
>> AND MOST OF THEM ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT
THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK. >> Reporter: BROWN HAS TALKED
TO MANY MIGRANTS WHO ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK FOR THE FIRST
HUNDRED DAYS THAT THEY ARE IN AMERICA.
ARE FOLLOWING THE RULES AND ONLY ONE PERSON IS WORKING AND
EVERYBODY ELSE IS NOT. >> WE ARE GOING TO WORK TO MAKE
MONEY AND TO HELP OUR FAMILIES. >> JORGE IS AN IMMIGRANT
ADVOCATE AND A FIRST GENERATION IMMIGRANT FROM MEXICO.
HE HAS LIVED IN WHITEWATER FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS.
>> I LIKE TO PROMOTE EDUCATION. I LIKE TO HELP OTHERS HELP SPEAK
ENGLISH. FACE NUMEROUS CHALLENGES WHEN
THEY GET TO WISCONSIN: GETTING A JOB, SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE, AND
GETTING TRANSPORTATION IS ALL TOP OF MIND.
>> I KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO BE IN THIS COUNTRY AND NOT KNOWING THE
LANGUAGE.
IT IS HARD. EVERY SINGLE HUMAN HAS A RIGHT
TO SUCCEED, WHATEVER YOU ARE, YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT.
>> Reporter: BUT FINDING A JOB IN RURAL WISCONSIN REQUIRES A
CAR, AND IN WISCONSIN, UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS ARE NOT
ALLOWED TO EARN A DRIVER'S LICENSE.
TRANSPORTATION. HAVE IS THE TAXI, THE TAXI ONLY
IS AVAILABLE HERE IN WHITEWATER FROM 7:30 IN THE MORNING UNTIL
5:00. ISSUE.
PEOPLE ESPECIALLY DRIVING IN SNOW FOR THE FIRST TIME, THAT IS
NOT A GOOD SITUATION. >> IT'S SAFER FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE
DRIVER'S LICENSES. CLASSES, THEY HAVE TO TAKE A
TEST TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN DRIVE, THEY HAVE TO HAVE
INSURANCE. YEARS, BUT TO BE HONEST WITH
YOU, I DIDN'T LEARN TO DRIVE UNTIL I CAME TO THE UNITED
STATES. I LEARNED WHAT THE YELLOW LINE
MEANS, I LEARNED WHAT THE WHITE LINE MEANS, I KNOW WHAT THE
BROKEN LINE MEANS. I LEARNED HOW I CAN PASS A CAR.
I DID NOT KNOW THAT IN MY COUNTRY.
HERE AND TAKE ALL OF THE TESTING, THE WRITTEN TEST,
PHYSICALLY DO THE DRIVING TEST SO THAT THEY ARE SAFER AS A
DRIVER, I'M ALL FOR THAT. >> NEARLY 20 STATES ALREADY
ALLOW UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO ON TIN A DRIVER'S LICENSE,
INCLUDING ILLINOIS. >> I THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING
THAT THEY REALLY NEED TO LOOK HARDER AT IN OUR LEGISLATURE, IS
JUST GIVING THOSE RIGHTS BACK SO THAT EVERYBODY IS SAFER.
>> ALONG WITH DRIVER'S LICENSES, CITY OFFICIALS SAY MORE NEEDS TO
BE DONE TO HELP WHITEWATER'S NEWEST IMMIGRANT POPULATION.
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO HELP EACH OTHER.
I THINK WE HAVE TO LEARN THAT WE ARE HUMANS, WE ARE IMMIGRANTS,
AND WE HAVE FEELINGS. >> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
NATHAN DENZIN IN WHITEWATER. >> NEXT WEEK, A LOOK AT WHAT THE
COMMUNITY IS DOING TO HELP THEIR NEW NEIGHBORS AND WHY CITY
OFFICIALS ARE ASKING THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR HELP.
THE MIGRANTS ARRIVING IN WHITEWATER REPRESENT A TINY
FRACTION OF PEOPLE CROSSING THE SOUTHERN BORDER INTO THE U.S..
IN DECEMBER ALONE, SOME 300,000 PEOPLE FROM CENTRAL AMERICA AND
ELSEWHERE REPORTEDLY DID SO. 2-1/2 MILLION PEOPLE IN 2023.
THE CRUSH OF PEOPLE CROSSING THE BORDER IS DESCRIBED AS A
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. MEANWHILE, THREE MILLION PENDING
ASYLUM CASE BEFORE U.S. IMMIGRATION COURTS MEANS
MIGRANTS GAINING ENTRY AT THE BORDER WAIT YEARS FOR THEIR
HEARINGS, ALL THE WHILE LIVING AND, AFTER A TIME, LEGALLY
WORKING IN THE U.S.. ERIN BARBATO IS THE DIRECTOR OF
THE IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CLINIC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LAW
SCHOOL. AND SHE JOINS US NOW.
THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE. >> Interview: THANK YOU FOR
IN TIJUANA. >> Interview: YES, IN THE END
OF DECEMBER TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ON
THE BORDER AND THE POLICIES THAT ARE IN PLACE THERE RIGHT NOW
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND LOOKING AT
HOW PEOPLE CAN ACCESS OUR ASYLUM SYSTEM AND THE NEW POLICIES THAT
ARE IN PLACE. >> WHAT DID YOU SEE AT THE
BORDER? >> SO WE VISIT A NUMBER OF
SHELTERS THAT WERE HOUSING PEOPLE WHO ARE IN TRANSIT
ATTEMPTING TO SEEK REFUGE IN THE U.S..
AND IN ORDER TO DO SO RIGHT NOW, THEY NEED TO APPLY FOR AN
APPOINTMENT WITH AN APP. AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE MET
WITH HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MONTHS IN ORDER TO ACCESS THAT
APPOINTMENT, BUT OUR GOVERNMENT IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GO
THROUGH A REGULAR ROUTE TO ENTER THE U.S. TO SEEK PROTECTION, BUT
IT IS CAUSING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO WAIT VERY LONG IN MEXICO BEFORE
THEY CAN EVEN ACCESS OUR ASYLUM SYSTEM.
PEOPLE WANTING TO GAIN ENTRY INTO THE U.S.?
>> I MEAN, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
LIVE IN A GREAT COUNTRY AND PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING ALL OVER
THE WORLD AND SO IF WE WERE LIVING IN A COUNTRY WHERE NO ONE
WANTED TO COME, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE AN ISSUE, BUT WE'RE
LIVING IN A COUNTRY WHERE WE DO HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE.
AND PEOPLES' LICE ARE LIVES ARER IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
>> WHAT POLICIES HAVE CHANGED ALLOWING THIS MORE RECENT CRUSH?
>> I'M NOT SURE IF THE POLICIES HAVE CHANGED.
IT'S DIFFICULT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS COMPARE NUMBER CONSIDERING
THAT THE BORDER WAS CLOSED UNDER TITLE 42 FOR SO LONG AND NOW
THAT THE BORDER IS -- IT'S NOT OPEN, BUT IT'S FUNCTIONING UNDER
WHAT'S CALLED TITLE 8, WHICH IS A LAW THAT GOM GOVERNS OUR ASYLM
PROCESS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SEEK ASYLUM WHICH THEY CAN'T DO
UNLESS THEY HAVE A CV APP 1 APPOINTMENT.
ONE OTHER CHANGE THAT POTENTIALLY HAS SOME VALIDITY IN
HELPING PEOPLE ACCESS THE ASYLUM SYSTEM IN A MORE REGULAR MANNER
IS THE OPENING OF THESE MOBILE OFFICES IN COLOMBIA, GUATEMALA
AND COSTA RICA, AND WILL ALLOW PEOPLE WITH STRONG CASES TO
APPLY FOR REFUGEE EFSTATHIOS THERE AND THEN FLY TO THE U.S.
AND SO IT COULD TAKE SOME PRESSURE OFF THE BORDER AS WELL
AS OUR ASYLUM SYSTEM. >> MEANWHILE, THERE'S SO MUCH
DISCUSSION AROU AROUND THE AND E NUMBERS OF PEOPLE CROSSING INTO
THE UNITED STATES. WHAT HAPPENS THROUGH SOME
EXECUTIVE OR LEGISLATIVE ACTION THE BORDERS CLOSE?
IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE? >> IT SEEMS THAT IT IS POSSIBLY,
POTENTIALLY WHETHER OUR PRESIDENT HAS THE ABILITY UNDER
THE LAWS TO CLOSE THE BORDER I THINK IS A QUESTION THAT WILL BE
LITIGATED IN COURT. OUR LAWS SAY THAT PEOPLE HAVE
THE RIGHT TO SEEK ASYLUM IN THE U.S. AS WELL AS THE BORDER IF
THEY HAVE AN EMPLOYMENT VISA OR EVEN A VISITOR VISA TO VISIT A
FAMILY. CONSEQUENCES ON SEPARATING
FAMILIES AND ALSO PUTTING MORE PEOPLE IN DANGER, BUT THAT MAY
HAPPEN. >> SHORT OF CLOSING THE BORDER,
DOES IT SEEM LIKELY THAT HIGHLY RESTRICTIVE LAWS WILL BE PUT IN
PLACE AT THIS TIME? >> I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN
DISCUSSED. WORKED BEFORE.
MORE DETERRENTS, MORE ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T SEEM TO
DETER PEOPLE TO NECESSARILY COME FROM THE U.S. AND I THINK THERE
MIGHT BE A BETTER WAY TO LOOK AT A MORE HUMANITARIAN SOLUTION.
>> WHY DO PEOPLE WAIT SO LONG TO HAVE THEIR CASES HEARD?
>> THE BACKLOG WITHIN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE LAW SYSTEM IN THE
IMMIGRATION COURTS IS -- IT'S VERY LONG.
AND SO PEOPLE, EVEN WITH THE STRONGEST ASYLUM CASES, ARE
WAITING YEARS IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE BENEFITS THAT THEY ARE
ENTITLED TO UNDER OUR LAWS, AND SO IT MAKES THE SYSTEM VERY
DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. PEOPLE MAY MISS THEIR COURT
HEARINGS BECAUSE THE COURT HEARINGS GET CHANGED ALL OF THE
TIME AND PEOPLE DON'T HAVE AN ATTORNEY WHEN THEY'RE IN THE
PROCESS UNLESS THEY CAN AFFORD ONE OR FIND A PRO BONO ONE.
IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT SYSTEM TO NAVIGATE AND IT'S NOT GOING
QUIBBLE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE QUICKLY FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE ELIGIBLE. >> ONCE THEY GET TO THAT
HEARING, HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM WILL BE
GRANTED IT? >> YOU KNOW, THE PERCENTAGES
DIFFER WHERE YOU'RE IN THE U.S.. THE NUMBERS -- THE JUDGES'
PERCENTAGES OF APPROVAL ARE AVAILABLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO IT'S HARD TO SAY EXACTLY, BUT IT'S DIFFICULT.
IT'S NOT -- THE PERCENTAGE IS NOT HIGH FOR THE PEOPLE THAT
RECEIVE ASYLUM. IF YOU'RE REPRESENTED BY AN
ATTORNEY, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO GET ASYLUM BECAUSE THEY KNOW
WHAT THE LAW IS, WHAT THE JUDGE IS LOOKING FOR BASED ON YOUR
STORY, BUT IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED, DIFFICULT PROCESS
AND PEOPLE DO NOT JUST -- AREN'T JUST GIVEN PAPERS.
IT TAKES YEARS. IT TAKES MONTHS TO PREPARE.
IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS. >> MEANWHILE, PEOPLE WHO ARE
AWAITING THAT HEARING, THEY CAN GET AUTHORIZATION TO WORK
LEGALLY? >> YES.
NORMALLY, DEPENDING ON WHAT PROCESS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH,
BUT YOU HAVE TO WAIT A NUMBER OF MONTHS, NORMALLY SIX MONTHS TO A
YEAR, TO OBTAIN A WORK PERMIT TO WORK IN THE U.S..
ONCE YOU'RE HERE, YOU'RE HERE WITH AUTHORIZATION.
YOU CAN WORK, YOU CAN GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE, YOU CAN GET A
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, BUT YOU'RE NOT HERE PERMANENTLY.
YOU CAN'T LEAVE THE U.S.. YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC
BENEFITS. MAYBE IT'S FOR YEARS WAITING TO
ACCESS THE ASYLUM SYSTEM, BUT THE WORK PERMIT DOES ALLOW
PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY AND SUPPORT THEMSELVES.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
ERIN BARBATO, THANKS VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> IN EDUCATION NEWS, THE NUMBER OF UW CAMPUSES GOING TO ON-LINE
CLASSES INSTEAD OF IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION HAS RISEN TO THREE.
AT WEST BEND, FOND du LAC AND MARINETTE.
ALTOGETHER. THE MARINETTE CAMPUS IS PART OF
UW GREEN BAY AND ITS CHANCELLOR, MICHAEL ALEXANDER, SAYS THE
WRITING WAS ON THE WALL, WHAT WITH DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND
COMPETITION FOR STUDENTS FROM THE NEARBY NORTHEAST WISCONSIN
TECHNICAL COLLEGE. >> THERE HAS TO BE ACCESS POINTS
TO EDUCATION. UW GREEN BAY HAS TO HAVE A
PRESENCE IN WISCONSIN. AND WE'RE INVESTING IN THE HIGH
SCHOOLS THERE, TO BE CLEAR. SO WITH OUR RISING PHOENIX
PROGRAM AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, OUR STUDENTS PARTICULARLY
WHO ARE INTERESTED IN COLLEGE TO GET THEM A HEAD START ON THE
COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, TO BE ABLE TO OFFER CLASSES WITH THE HIGH
SCHOOLS MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO OFFER WITH A SMALLER
POPULATION IN THE HIGH SCHOOL. RIGHT?
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY ARE TRYING TO DO TO
HELP THAT REGION. BECAUSE IT DOES MATTER.
RIGHT? JUST THROW OUR HANDS UP.
WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT BETTER AND
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.
AND, AGAIN, I GO BACK TO THE NWTC ISSUE.
RIGHT? WE THINK A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY
ABOUT THIS SOMETIMES, BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR, IF MOST OF THOSE
CLASSES, IF NOT ALL OF THOSE CLASSES, THOSE 14 CLASSES,
THERE'S A CLASS THAT'S PRETTY MUCH BEING IDENTICALLY TAUGHT BY
NWTC. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES THIS AN
AREA THAT IS HARDER TO SERVE BECAUSE OF HOW SPREAD OUT IT IS
WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE AND THE POPULATION?
YOU'VE GOT TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW WE ACCESS -- GIVE
ACCESS TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO WANT IT.
>> SO WHAT DOES THE CLOSURE OF TWO-YEAR CAMPUSES TO IN-PERSON
CLASSES ACROSS WISCONSIN MEAN FOR ACCESS AND DEGREE ATTAINMENT
FOR STUDENTS? WE CHECK IN WITH THE NATIONAL
NON-PARTISAN, NONPROFIT GROUP, NDRC, AND ITS RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
IN THE AREA OF RURAL HIGHER EDUCATION, ALYSSA RATLEDGE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO YOU HAVE WRITTEN THAT RURAL COLLEGES MATTER.
HOW SO? >> RURAL COLLEGES ARE OFTEN THE
ONLY ACCESS POINT TO HIGHER EDUCATION POSTSECONDARY TRAINING
AND WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN RURAL AREAS.
MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN RURAL AREAS ARE SIMPLY UNABLE TO MOVE
AWAY TO GO TO COLLEGE AND THEY DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE ON-LINE
ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE UP ON-LINE OFFERINGS.
SO THE ABILITY TO GO TO A COLLEGE AND, AGAIN, THESE MIGHT
BE DISTANT, WE MIGHT BE TRAVELING 25, 50, EVEN A HUNDRED
MILES TO COLLEGE, BUT IT STILL MEANS FOLKS CAN STAY WHERE THEY
ARE METROPOLITAN WHERE THEIR FAMILIES ARE LOCATED.
WE'RE NEAR CLOSING CAMPUSES, IT CAN BE REALLY CHALLENGING FOR
THOSE FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE OR TO ACHIEVE THE
POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIAL THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN.
>> BECAUSE IN THE END, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY'RE IN
EDUCATION DESERTS? >> EDUCATION DESERTS HAVE A
CHILLING EFFECT ON STUDENTS' LIKELIHOOD OF GOING TO COLLEGE,
BUT ALSO IMPORTANTLY, THEY'RE LIKELIHOOD OF COMPLETELY
COLLEGE. NATIONALLY, MOST STUDENTS WHO
ARE ATTENDING COLLEGE ARE DOING SO WITHIN ABOUT 25 MILES OF
THEIR HOMES. IT'S NOT REALLY THESE DAYS THE
TRADITIONAL SENSE OF BEING 18 AND GOING OFF TO COLLEGE AND
LIVING ON CAMPUS. THESE DAYS, MOST COLLEGE
STUDENTS ARE COMMUTING AND A LOT OF THEM PARTICULARLY IN THE
TWO-YEAR SPACE ARE ATTENDING PART-TIME, AND TODAY'S COLLEGE
STUDENT IS MUCH OLDER THAN THE TRADITIONAL CONCEPTION.
THOSE FOLKS ARE NOT GOING TO PICK UP AND LEAVE.
THEN HAVE FAMILIES AND JOBS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, NOR DO THEY
WANT TO LEAVE. OFTENTIMES WE HEAR THAT OUR
RURAL FOLKS WANT TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE, CONTRIBUTE TO THE
LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND HAVING WORKFORCE TRAINING OR A COLLEGE
DEGREE CAN HELP THEM DO THAT IN A MEANINGFUL WAY IF THEY'RE ABLE
TO ACCESS IT. >> SO THE UW GREEN BAY TWO-YEAR
BRANCH IN MARINETTE IS GOING MOSTLY ON-LINE.
DOESN'T THAT STILL AFFORD ACCESS TO RURAL STUDENTS?
>> THERE ARE MANY RURAL STUDENTS FOR WHOM ON-LINE ACCESS IS GOING
TO BE ENOUGH. AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR
STUDENTS WHO ARE COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, HAVE GOOD ACCESS,
HAVE GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF THE INTERNET, YES, THAT CAN BE A
GOOD OPTION FOR THEM. HOWEVER, THERE ARE GOING TO BE A
LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT UP.
OFTENTIMES THAT'S OLDER FOLKS OR PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN VERY
REMOTE AND RURAL FRINGE LOCATIONS WHERE THEY SIMPLY
DON'T HAVE RELIABLE BROADBAND OR, IN SOME PLACES, DON'T HAVE
INTERNET ACCESS AT ALL. THERE ARE STILL PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY WITHOUT RELIABLE INTERNET ACCESS AND MANY OF THE
ON-LINE COURSE OFFERINGS ARE GOING TO REQUIRE A HIGH-SPEED
CONNECTION OR THE ABILITY TO DOWNLOAD DOCUMENTS THAT JUST IS
OUT OF REACH FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING REALLY OFF THE GRID.
>> SO WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT FOR THE CAMPUSES THAT ARE
REALIGNING OR EVEN CLOSING, THE PROBLEM IS REALLY LOW
ENROLLMENT, WHICH MAKES MAINTAINING THE WHOLE KIND OF
CAMPUS INFRASTRUCTURE UNTENABLE. DOESN'T IT MAKE SENSE TO
BASICALLY DOWNSIZE FOR THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM?
>> IT MAY MAKE SENSE IF THERE'S NOT A WILLINGNESS TO INVEST IN
SUPPORTING THOSE CAMPUSES AT THE STATE LEVEL, YES, IT CAN BE AN
UNTENABLE SITUATION WHEN YOU BUDGETS.
PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION WE HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH.
RIGHT? ARE WE WILLING TO FUND PLACES
THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING BUDGETS REALLY STRUGGLING TO
MAKE ENDS MEET GIVEN THE REDUCTION IN STUDENTS AT THE
COST OF POTENTIALLY SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO
STRUGGLE WITH OR BE UNABLE TO COMPLETE A COLLEGE DEGREE, IF
THAT LOCATION IS CLOSED. >> SO A RECENT PAPER FROM THE
FEDERAL RESERVE DISCUSSED HOW EMPLOYMENT AND MANUFACTURING IN
THE AGRICULTURAL SECTORS HAS DECREASED IN WISCONSIN OVER THE
PAST 10 YEARS. WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE PEOPLE WHO
HAVEN'T UPSKILLED FOR A CHANGED ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL
PARTS OF OUR STATE? >> YEAH.
IT IS AN ENORMOUS CHALLENGE. IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WE SEE THIS IN A LOT OF PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHERE
NATURAL RESOURCES, ECONOMIES OR AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIES ARE
CHANGING AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT IS HARDER THAN EVER FOR AN
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS AND FAMILY FARMS TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGICAL
COMPONENT TO MANY OF THOSE JOBS THAT COULD BE GREATLY BENEFITED
FROM SOME ADDITIONAL WORKFORCE TRAINING OR TECHNOLOGICAL
TRAINING. WITHOUT ACCESS TO THAT TRAINING
CAN MAKE IT REALLY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO COMPETE IN A CHANGING
ECONOMY. THOSE FOLKS AND THOSE
COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE.
RIGHT? THERE'S ALWAYS THE OPTION, OF
COURSE, TO MOVE TO A BIG CITY, BUT THAT JUST CONTINUES TO
HOLLOW OUR RURAL TOWNS AND COUNTIES OUT.
SO IF WE WANT TO KEEP THE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY IN THESE
PLACES, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN SUPPORT FOLKS TO BE
ABLE TO AFFORD AND COMPLETELY UP-SKILLING, WHETHER THAT'S A
TRADITIONAL COLLEGE DEGREE OR A TRADE CERTIFICATE OR WORKFORCE
TRAINING. WE LEAVE IT THERE.
ALYSSA RATLEDGE, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR