Mobilizing Coherent Community Responses to Changing Immigration Policies | See You In Court: How Responses to Federal Litigation Can Help Build Stronger & Inclusive Community

July 11, 2017

From June 7-9, 2017, scholars, researchers, community organizers, service providers, elected officials, leaders of faith communities, immigrant advocates, and others, joined together for a 3-day conference on how diverse communities are working together to protect, empower and meet the needs of immigrants and refugees in an era of heightened uncertainty. The conference examined “whole of community” responses to protecting and empowering immigrants and offered models and best practices for moving forward amidst numerous challenges.

The event was hosted by the Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS), Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance of Catholic Charities of Galveston-Houston, the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, and the South Texas College of Law Houston.

This panel addressed federal litigation as a prompt for unifying strategies. It covered legal challenges to the Trump administration’s Executive orders, to immigration enforcement practices, and in individual removal cases. It also addressed how communities can prepare for, assist in, and utilize litigation as one potential tool in an effective community response to anti-immigrant legislation and practices.

Moderator: Chris Rickerd, Policy Counsel in the National Political Advocacy Department, American Civil Liberties Union

Andrew Free, Founder and Managing Attorney, Law Office of R. Andrew Free

Geoffrey Hoffman, Professor and Director of the Immigration Clinic, University of Houston Law Center

Esther Sung, Staff Attorney, National Immigration Law Center