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Saying immigration reform begins with comprehensive legislation that recognizes the presence of illegal entrants already in the United States, the Border Action Network held its own hearing here Saturday.

It came as an alternative to those organized by conservative members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and it featured testimony and short speeches from illegal entrants, activists and Democratic politicians.

Jennifer Allen, executive director of Border Action Network, said the hearing was needed because immigrants and human rights groups have generally not been invited to the congressional immigration hearings.

A six-member panel of local and regional community leaders listened to the testimony and speeches. Similar hearings are taking place in Texas and New Mexico. The findings will be combined into a report to be distributed to legislators and media outlets, Allen said.

The hearing was set at Pima Community College's Downtown campus, and was attended by about 60 people. Organizers said they sought to put a human face on the immigration debate with testimonials about alleged abuses by law enforcement on the border. Others shared how their lives have been put on hold while they navigate the immigration process.

"The individual testimonies are very moving," said Mark Townley, Humane Borders president. "There are just so many people dying in our desert."

Panelist Tomás León, president of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, told the audience that immigration reform must acknowledge employers' needs for immigrant labor.

"Simple-solution policies, in our opinion, are not going to be effective," he said, speaking for the chamber.

U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva dropped by for about five minutes. In a brief speech to the panel, Grijalva lauded the hearing as showing "the other side of the immigration debate."

Panelists included: Eva Dong, Sunnyside School District board president; Rabbi Maynard Bell of the American Jewish Committee Arizona chapter; Manny Ruiz, a Santa Cruz County supervisor; Christian Ramirez of the San Diego-based Project Voice; and Elizabeth Camargo of the El Paso Border Network for Human Rights.