NILES — The League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties will host a public forum and discussion on the issue of allowing seasonal and agricultural workers to apply for or secure and renew a driver’s license or obtain an identification card regardless of immigration status.

The meeting is open to the public and will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday, in the Community Room at the Niles District Library, 620 E Main St. in Niles. The public is invited to bring questions and be ready for an opportunity to express viewpoints as members of the league seek to discuss this issue from the inside and out.

The league will welcome 78th House District Dave Pagel who will participate from Lansing by telephone due to Michigan legislature being in session later in the day. 

Pagel is the author of Michigan HB-4795 which is directly concerned with the means for providing “for an official personal Identification card” to undocumented persons under certain circumstances.

Also on the program will be Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey; Theresa Hendricks, the executive director of Migrant Legal Aid in Grand Rapids; and a representative from the Berrien County Farm Bureau to provide other perspectives on this multi-faceted issue.

Following this public session, a league member panel will analyze the consensus responses from league members, and look for areas of member understanding and agreement.  Then using this information, along with information from other Michigan leagues, at the state level the League of Women Voters of Michigan, Lansing, Michigan, will create a revised position statement for its members.

More information is available on the LWVBCC website at lwvbcc.org.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.