(CANTON, OHIO) The Canton area League of Women Voters will host a public forum, “Immigration: Myths and Facts,” on October 21, 2025, bringing local experts to discuss what immigration policies actually say and how they work in real life. The event aims to separate rumor from reality for Stark County residents, at a time when immigration debates are heated and families are looking for clear answers. The forum is open to the public and reflects the League’s long-standing focus on civic education.
Organizers say the session will walk through common claims about border enforcement, DACA, asylum, work visas, and voting rights for naturalized citizens, then pair those claims with current law and policy. Attendees can expect plain-language explanations and specific examples of how rules affect students, workers, mixed-status families, and employers in and around Canton. The League of Women Voters hopes the conversation helps people feel better informed before they talk with neighbors or contact elected officials.
What the League supports and why it matters locally
Nationally, the League of Women Voters supports laws that keep families together, meet U.S. economic needs, and protect people fleeing harm. According to the League’s national policy framework, priorities include:
- Family reunification for spouses and minor children.
- Work visas that match jobs the 🇺🇸 economy needs.
- Humanitarian protections, including asylum and refugee resettlement.
- Student visas for people qualified to study in the United States.
- Fair treatment under the law, such as due process and humane conditions.
- An earned path to legal status for long-settled, law-abiding immigrants who meet requirements like paying taxes and learning English.
- Opposition to mass deportations while Congress considers broader reforms.
- Federal support for local communities that carry fiscal costs tied to immigration.
Local League leaders say these positions fit the realities they see in Stark County. Employers point to ongoing openings in sectors like health care and manufacturing. Schools report students with mixed-status families who need reliable information. Faith groups and legal clinics say asylum issues and case backlogs affect families’ daily lives. The Canton forum will place national ideas in a local context and take questions from attendees.
In 2025, the League has also focused on voting access concerns tied to proposed federal measures like the SAVE Act. The League argues such bills would require excessive proof-of-citizenship steps for registration that could keep eligible voters, including many naturalized citizens, off the rolls. The organization continues to promote voter education and turnout for all eligible citizens, noting that naturalized citizens now account for about one in ten eligible voters nationwide.
The current policy landscape residents will hear about
Speakers plan to explain the status of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The policy remains in place, allowing many people who came to the United States as children to work and study while protecting them from deportation, even as court cases continue.
For official program details ahead of the forum, you can review the U.S. government page on DACA at USCIS: Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
Border security and workplace enforcement will also be part of the conversation. Federal agencies continue to invest in staffing and technology at ports of entry, and employers face penalties for hiring people who are not allowed to work. Presenters are expected to address how verification tools and audits affect small businesses and workers, and to clarify common mistakes that lead to costly compliance problems.
The forum will note that a broad path to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants remains stalled in Congress. The League supports interim measures that would let long-settled immigrants earn legal status by meeting accountability steps. While Congress has not passed a comprehensive bill, local groups have pushed for targeted fixes that:
- keep families stable,
- protect workers from abuse, and
- give employers a predictable talent pipeline.
Humanitarian protections remain a key pressure point. The United States continues to process asylum and refugee cases, but families often face long waits and changing rules. Community organizations in the Canton area report that delays create housing, health, and school challenges.
Presenters intend to:
- outline the difference between asylum (for people already in the United States or at the border) and refugee status (for people vetted abroad), and
- explain where backlogs cause the most strain.
Naturalized citizens and civic participation
Naturalized citizens are an important part of the civic picture in Northeast Ohio. They:
- serve in the military,
- own businesses, and
- vote in growing numbers.
The League’s advocacy in 2025 includes pushing back on policies that could accidentally block eligible voters from registering, while encouraging new citizens to engage fully in the democratic process. This focus is part of the League’s broader nonpartisan mission to expand informed participation in elections.
Why local forums matter
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, community forums that explain how programs like DACA, asylum, and employment authorization actually operate can reduce confusion and rumor-driven fears. Clear explanations help mixed-status families make safer choices and help employers set up solid compliance practices. The site notes that local, face-to-face Q&A sessions are especially helpful in areas where legal services are stretched thin.
The Canton forum also ties into a national push to make legal information more accessible in plain English. The League’s materials outline:
- due process rights,
- the role of counsel in immigration proceedings, and
- the expectation of humane treatment in government custody.
By highlighting those baselines, the session aims to ground policy debates in law and facts rather than headlines or social media posts.
Important takeaway: Clear, local explanations reduce fear, help families plan, and assist employers in staying compliant.
Practical questions the forum will address
Event organizers encourage residents to bring practical questions such as:
- What documents are safe to carry?
- How do mixed-status families plan for emergencies?
- What’s the difference between a student visa and work authorization?
- Can DACA recipients enroll in health coverage under current rules?
While the forum won’t provide personal legal advice, it will offer direction to reputable local resources and official information channels people can trust.
How to stay engaged and attend
The League is also urging attendees to stay engaged after the forum. Community members can:
- Join the League’s local chapter.
- Sign up for action alerts.
- Share credible voter education tools with friends and neighbors.
Residents who cannot attend on October 21 can find updates and educational materials through the Canton chapter’s website and the national League’s policy pages, which track immigration positions and ongoing advocacy.
For those interested in attending “Immigration: Myths and Facts,” the League recommends checking local listings or contacting the Canton area League of Women Voters directly for venue and registration details. The forum is free and open to everyone, including students, parents, employers, educators, faith groups, and service providers who see the effects of immigration policy every day in Canton.
This Article in a Nutshell
On October 21, 2025, the Canton area League of Women Voters will host “Immigration: Myths and Facts,” a public forum to clarify immigration policies and their local effects. Local experts will address DACA, asylum, border security, work and student visas, and voting access for naturalized citizens, pairing common claims with current law. The League’s national priorities—family reunification, work visas tied to economic needs, humanitarian protections, due process, and an earned path to legal status—will frame the discussion. Presenters will explain practical implications for students, workers, mixed-status families, employers, and community services, and guide attendees to verified resources. The event is free and aims to reduce misinformation, support civic participation, and help attendees engage with policymakers informedly.
