From ICE to Sanctuary Cities: The Myths and Realities of Immigration Enforcement

According to the Pew Research Center, there were 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the US in 2015, a small but statistically significant decline from the Center’s estimate of 11.3 million in 2009. And while these numbers differ slightly, depending on who is counting and how they are looking at and sampling the population, it’s clear that the US government’s plan for undocumented immigrants has changed dramatically with the new administration. But how does immigration enforcement really work—both conceptually and on the ground?

Immigration lawyer Linus Chan will discuss how various immigration laws—city, county, state, and federal—interact and intersect when being enforced. Professor Chan, who received the University’s prestigious 2017 University Outstanding Community Service Award for his work with the Law School’s James H. Binger Center for New Americans, also will dispel the numerous myths that surround immigration and immigrants, including “sanctuary cities," "anchor babies," "criminal aliens,” and more. 

Says Chan, “Immigration law is diverse, rich, and an example of how to define what our country’s values are. Deciding who can be our neighbors, coworkers, teachers, and family often requires us to articulate our vision of the United States and whether it is to remain a shining light on a hill.”