Debates over immigration and border policy continue to move to the center of political discourse in the United States. However, until lawmakers can establish an immigration policy that is realistic, U.S. border-enforcement efforts will continue to be undermined, and migrants will continue to fall pray to human smugglers.

Arizona State University’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences will host a Border Justice forum designed to educate and encourage meaningful immigration and border policy that upholds the rights of all people. The festival and film forum begins Thursday, April 12, and will be held at ASU’s West campus, 4701 W. Thunderbird Road, Phoenix. The event is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.

Representatives from various non-profit organizations such as Humane Borders, Amnesty International, the Florence Project and No More Death/No Mas Muertes will be available to share information and address questions regarding border issues. Information tables will be situated on the Fletcher Lawn from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

A public art display, Border Lines, will be available for viewing from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Border Lines features a collaboration between Amnesty International and New Century Artists. The forum also features musical performances by Con Clave Trio and David Kennedy with percussion accompaniment.

The evening culminates with the viewing of Rights on the Line: Vigilantes at the Border, a riveting film that investigates conflict on the ground of border communities in the Southwest. The film focuses on border activists, migrants and civilian patrol groups including the Minuteman Project. At the conclusion of the film, Ray Ybarra, the filmmaker, will discuss the film with the audience. Ybarra was named an Ira Glasser Racial Justice Fellow by the American Civil Liberties Union. He is one of only a handful of Racial Justice Fellows nationwide, and the first Arizona resident to receive the prestigious award. The film starts at 7 p.m. in La Sala.