Here are some suggestions for people who want to have constructive conversations about controversial issues like immigration.

1. Choose the time, place and circumstances carefully.  Avoid a time or situation in which people feel threatened or challenged. Do not attempt to
    have a conversation with a person who is unreasonably angry, hostile or combative.
2. Concentrate on listening carefully and patiently.
3. Affirm that you are hearing what the person is saying.
4. Use reflective responses or non-threatening questions to clarify what the person is saying or feeling and learn why they think or feel the way they
     do.
       -- Why is the immigration issue so personal for them?
       -- Why do they have strong feelings about immigration?
        -- Have they always felt this way, or has something changed or provoked them?
      Remember that the root cause of anger is often fear or a sense of vulnerability.
       -- What about immigration makes people angry or afraid?
       -- Has the person had a personal experience with migrants or refugees that created
          anger or fear?
 5. If necessary, change the conversation from the second person tense (“you”) to talk about people in general (“they”).
 6. Respond in an affirmative or supportive way to the person’s concerns and feelings.
 7. Acknowledge concerns or fears which you share with them.
 8. Avoid being confrontational or directly contradicting what the person is saying.
 9. If you sense the person is willing to listen to what you know or how you feel, share your opinions and feelings in a tentative way.
      Remember that facts and political convictions are not always persuasive in conversations about emotionally-charged issues.
 10. Suggest that maybe there is more than one way to look at the issue.
 11. Suggest some factors which have informed your attitude about immigration:
       -- information that you find convincing (eg. What People of Faith Should Know).
       -- personal experiences that shaped your attitude toward migrants and refugees.
       -- moral, ethical or religious principles that shape your response.
       -- concerns about the implications and consequences of how the government is addressing the issue.
       -- the possibility that people with different opinions can find common ground on a better national response (eg. Principles of Comprehensive  
            Immigration Reform).
 12. Affirm again that you heard and appreciate what the person said and how they feel.
 13. Thank them for sharing their concerns in a calm and respectful way.
 14. Be comfortable leaving the conversation open-ended and tentative.

Last Update: 09.12.25