Center for New Americans Hosts Immigration Panel

On October 13, 2016, the Center for New Americans convened local and national experts for “Immigration Nation: Writing Our Next Chapter,” a panel designed to discuss a variety of immigration-related topics. Panelists included Kalia Abiade, the advocacy director of the Center for New Community; Alondra Cano, Minneapolis City Council member representing the Ninth Ward; Karen Francois, assistant commissioner of the Office of Economic Equity and Opportunity; and Jaylani Hussein, the executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Moderator Deepinder Mayell, director of the Center for New Americans’ Education and Outreach Program, posed questions to the panelists relating to Islamophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment, supporting immigrants despite progress on comprehensive immigration reform, and the positive contributions of immigrants.

The presentation also included an overview of the Center’s work during the past year and recognized John Gutterman, who founded Conversations with Friends in 2011—an organization whose mission is to visit and support people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Conversations with Friends has offered comfort to many clients of the Center’s Detainee Rights Clinic over the years. More information about the Center’s successes can be found here.

Following the panel, a reception was held in Auerbach Commons.