Immigration forum scheduled for Saturday

Join a diverse array of Iowans plus presidential candidates Saturday for a unique, nonpartisan forum focused on one of the most crucial issues of the campaign.

#UniteIowa on Immigration is designed to help defuse some of the angry rhetoric around immigration that has crept into this summer's political sparring. The forum, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Siebens Forum at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, will start with a panel discussion among Iowans who represent a range of immigration experience and political views — whether they favor a "path to citizenship" or "rule of law." Kyle Munson, The Register's Iowa columnist, will moderate as part of his ongoing #UniteIowa campaign to bring more civility to some of our most bitter disputes. Hundreds of Iowans have registered to attend.

The panel will be followed by Q&As with a pair of presidential candidates. Both Lincoln Chafee, the former governor and U.S. senator from Rhode Island, and Martin O'Malley, the former governor of Maryland, will appear to discuss immigration. All the campaigns have been invited to attend. The BVU campus community, including student Republicans and Democrats, has played a crucial role as host of this nonpartisan event.

Watch the forum live online Saturday starting at 2:30 p.m. at DesMoinesRegister.com/LiveVideo. You also may still register to attend at iowaimmigration.org.