HUMAN RIGHTS OBSERVER - The Advocates for Human Rights

Observer Page 13The Advocates forHuman Rights joinedthe AmericanImmigration LawyersAssociation (AILA)Minnesota/DakotasChapter to host theUpper MidwestImmigrationConference, entitled“Immigration Law inthe New ‘ICE’ Age ofAsylum Conference HighlightsCurrent Issues and LawMichele Garnett McKenzieintroducing plenary speakers, ScottBorene, Bob Aronson, and Mary PivecEnforcement,” on May 1st and 2nd at the Eagan CommunityCenter. Two hundred attendees received updates and training onall aspects of immigration law, including a focus on immigrationraids. Program co-chairs Michele Garnett McKenzie and ScottBorene, and planners Malinda Schmiechen, David Wilson,Elizabeth Streefland, and Brian Aust reported that the event wasa great success.Attendees commented that it was beneficial to have such acomprehensive conference in Minnesota. One AILA membersaid “since the INS was broken into different agencies, thewhole chapter hardly gets together. The conference was anexcellent opportunity to see people from different practice areasand rekindle old friendships.”Another asylum litigation session on Friday, May 2nd providedupdates for attorneys on both federal and BIA case lawdevelopments from the past year, presented by local expert BenCasper, Maria Baldini-Potermin of Gostynska Frakt, Ltd. inChicago, and Anwen Hughes of Human Rights First. On bothdays of the conference, attendees could enjoy “lunch with anexpert” in the field of asylum law, providing a more informalsetting in which to ask questions and discuss asylum casedevelopments. “Asylum case law and procedures are constantlydeveloping,” says Emily Good, program director of TheAdvocates’ Refugee and Immigrant Program. “It is essential thatattorneys representing asylum seekers have access to highquality training.”In addition to the regular asylum programming, the partnershipwith AILA allowed for a broader topical scope. A plenarysession kicked off the conference with a spirited discussion ofworksite enforcement and the dynamics of an ICE (Immigrationand Customs Enforcement) raid. The rest of the conferencefeatured information about removal defense, family-basedimmigration developments, business and corporate-focusedimmigration practice, and trafficking visa updates. “We’regrateful to all the presenters for their generous participation inthe conference,” said Malinda Schmiechen, staff attorney andone of the lead organizers of this year’s conference. “Ultimately,the biggest beneficiaries will be our clients.”The AsylumConference broughttogether local andnational experts totrain attorneys new toasylum and toprovide experiencedpractitioners withup-to-dateinformation. DuringFriday’s session,Immigration court panel attendees heard fromChicago AsylumOfficer Director Ken Madsen and a supervisory officer at theChicago Asylum Office about national security cases,gender-based asylum claims, and other processing updates.Moderated by Emily Good of The Advocates, the panel alsofeatured Retired Judge Joseph R. Dierkes, who provided a “viewfrom the bench” and Anwen Hughes, who offered apractitioner’s perspective. In the afternoon, the perennial favoriteimmigration court practice panel gave conference attendees tipson immigration court practice. The advice came directly fromJudge Olmanson, Judge Goessert, DHS Trial Attorney AnnTanke, and local practitioners Karen Ellingson and Steve Thal.The Advocates has also been providing trainings upon request togroups of new volunteer attorneys who may not have had theopportunity to attend the conference and gain a background inbasic asylum law. As always, an updated Asylum Manual wasprovided as part of the conference materials and is available tovolunteer attorneys. Groups who are interested in basic asylumtraining for pro bono attorneys should contact Emily Good orMalinda Schmiechen.This success of this year’s conference was enabled by the workof The Advocates’ volunteers and interns who providedassistance assembling binders and nametags, and providedstaffing supportthroughout theconference – weare very grateful!Also, manythanks to Robins,Kaplan, Miller &Ciresi forprovidingfinancial supportfor theconference.Conference participantsAugust 2008 Volume XX, Issue 2