PRO/CON at The Pier, part of the Arthur N. Rupe Debate Series in LA, is back for its third year. Organized by ProCon.org and the Santa Monica Pier Corporation, these free public events take place Mondays in August at the historic Santa Monica Pier. The nonpartisan series features experts from both sides of hot issues, along with a neutral moderator, debating and reinvigorating the art of critical thinking as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean.

IMMIGRATION: Abolish ICE? 
PRO: Chris Newman, JD, Legal Director, National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) 
CON: Andrew Arthur, JD, Former Immigration Judge; Former Acting Chief of the INS National Security Law Division
Moderator: Dawn Nakagawa, MBA, Executive Vice President, The Berggruen Institute
VIP Reception Tickets

Each week kicks off at 5:30 pm with a Civic Engagement Fair with interactive activities and music. Activity stations include: 

• Voting on the topic (hosted by ProCon.org)
• Voter registration (hosted by League of Women Voters of Los Angeles and California Secretary of State)
• Soapbox speeches (hosted by Action Civics LA)
• Writing your elected officials (hosted by The Constituents LA)
• A pop-up library (hosted by the Santa Monica Public Library)
• Live DJ spinning tracks around each week's theme

The debate goes from 6:30-7:30 pm. A visual stenographer creates art as the debate unfolds. After each debate, a ticketed VIP reception at the adjacent Mariasol restaurant takes places where speakers and sponsors forget their differences and celebrate what they have in common, over margaritas.

Anyone interested can RSVP on Facebook or just show up. For those who cannot attend in person, ProCon.org plans to livestream via Facebook Live and post the debates on its YouTube channel.