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A forum about immigration started with the grim reality many who try to enter the country face at one point in their journey: a 911 call.

We need help, a man repeats in Spanish, shouting in a winded voice.

I need the directions, the operator replies.

The recording continues with a brief, inaudible response, then the mans voice goes quiet, and the call ends with the sound of a busy signal.

The message set the tone for Monday evenings town hall meeting, which was organized by Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar and led entirely in Spanish by hosts Antonio Guillen with Univision and Jessica Montoya of Telemundo. The two stations that dominate Spanish-language news in San Antonio hosted the forum out of the University of Texas at San Antonios downtown campus and streamed footage of it on their respective social media pages.

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In the blue hue of the theater lights at the Buena Vista Theater downtown, the panelists sat in black chairs as the hosts tossed the panelists questions prepared both beforehand and taken from members of the audience. The crowd of more than 100 people included both political figures and candidates, as well as people who wanted to learn more about efforts to help immigrants.

And much like the nations long-running immigration debate, it also included vocal opponents.

People critical of illegal immigration heckled the hosts. One woman who kept interrupting the panelists was escorted from the room by a deputy.

An hour later, more people who said that English should be spoken because this is America engaged in a few brief, hushed arguments with other attendees who were interested in hearing what the panelists had to say.

The rabble-rousers left the hall to the sound of applause and cheers from other attendees.

County Commissioner Rebecca Clay-Flores detailed efforts by the county to help undocumented immigrants facing deportation. She said that although the county does not have the authority to set its own laws and policies regarding immigration, the commissioners voted last month on a $1 million immigrant defense fund to help organizations that offer legal and other services.

Later in the forum, an audience member confronted Clay-Flores over the efforts put into helping people who come to the country illegally.

The commissioner was firm in her response.

How easy its been for you to forget that this is a country of immigrants, she said, saying that many in the audience have blood of immigrants running through their veins.

She said the defense fund might seem like a lot of money, but its only a drop in the bucket compared to the $2.8 billion budget approved in the Commissioners Court last year.

She jousted momentarily with an audience member who said that his parents came to the United States legally.

Clay-Flores, who is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Mexico, asked, What kind of misery are people fleeing that they risk dying in a trailer?

She was referencing the deadly smuggling incident that left 53 migrants from Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras dead in June in South Bexar County, one of the many horrific incidents undocumented immigrants have faced that also spurred Monday nights discussion.

She recalled the 13-year-old boy as the youngest who died among the migrants, saying that children dont understand the risks of coming to the U.S.

For me, its a humanitarian issue, she said.

The commissioner also reiterated a portion from one panelist, Erica B. Schommer, a law professor at St. Marys University, saying that there are racist laws, such as those in Africa and the Caribbean, that prevent people from obtaining a legal visa.

Schommer earlier said its difficult for refugees to seek political asylum as people have to demonstrate that their lives were in danger from religious, political or LGBT persecution. That process takes years.

Asylum seekers may also ask for a work permit in the meantime, but that can be complicated and time-consuming, too, she said.

The professor said the U.S. has not seen any changes in immigration laws for many years, and that theres a lot of injustice in the process itself.

The reality in San Antonio is totally different now than what it was when the current immigration laws were passed, Schommer said. We need to make changes so there can be an appropriate response to what the international situation is now.

State Sen. Jos Menndez, D-San Antonio, fielded a question from Guillen, who said that immigrants are being sent to Washington and New York, shifting responsibilities to other communities. He asked Menndez whether Gov. Greg Abbott has the authority to do so.

On ExpressNews.com:S.A. archbishop calls for immigration reform at Mass for victims of migrant trailer tragedy

Menndez said Abbott, when he was lieutenant governor, used to complain about how the federal government would butt into state affairs, and now hes pushing state issues back onto Washington.

Hes doing it for political reasons, he said in Spanish. He wants political recognition for doing this; hes not helping anybody.

While attempting to detail efforts his office makes with Catholic Charities to help migrants, the senator was interrupted by hecklers asking for the forum to continue in English.

He later said that people living in the shadows would love to pay their fair share of taxes just to live a normal life.

One migrant interviewed by Telemundo on video said they dont have the time or money they need to get to where theyre going. Theyre held for three days until theyre deported to another state.

J. Antonio Fernandez, CEO of Catholic Charities, said they are trying to find a way the city can help buy tickets for them to get to where they need to go.

Its not fair for them to be here and having nothing to do, he said. They dont have any notice of where theyre going to go or how theyre going to get there.

jbeltran@express-news.net

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Spanish forum on immigration interrupted by calls for English - San Antonio Express-News