MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- The immigration reform group Bibles, Badges and Business held a roundtable discussion Wednesday morning at the First Amendment Center in Nashville.
The group is part of a nationwide effort by business, law enforcement and faith groups to influence the immigration debate in the nation’s capital.
Former attorney General Alberto Gonzales led Wednesday's discussion. Also attending are representatives of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce, the Middle Tennessee Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, and the Tennessee Farm Bureau.
The Rev. Eddie Pool of MJ Life Church in Mt. Juliet was a roundtable panelist. Poole describes himself as a conservative Republican, but says it’s time for reform.
“We need to make a clear pathway toward staying in the country for the people who are already here. We’re not going to be able to ship everybody back to Mexico. That’s really just kind of, you know – it’s not gonna’ happen. So we need to figure out what we’re going to do and make a plan and get it done and just take some action.”
Poole said his current view of the immigration debate was shaped by a personal experience. A member of his church married an undocumented man whom he describes as now “lost in the system.”