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ImmigrationProf Blog
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Scholarly Happenings at SMU; and the Tenor of the Immigration Debate

By immigrationprof

As previously announced on this blog, SMU Dedman School of Law held a symposium on “Immigration Law Immigrants, Vigilantes, and Immigration Reform: Civil Rights in the 21st Century” yesterday.  The conference included first rate presentations by George A. Martínez (SMU) (conference organizer), Michael Olivas (Houston), Howard Chang (Penn; visting, Chicago), Karen Engle (Texas), James Hollifield (SMU), Rose Villazor (SMU), and Nathan Cortez (SMU).  I also discussed my new book, Opening the Floodgates:  Why America Needs to Rethink Its Borders and Immigration Laws.   The papers will be published in the SMU Law Review.

It was clear from the conference that there is much serious thought about immigration in the heart of Texas; recall that Dallas is not that far from Irving and Farmer’s Branch, two localities that entered the immigration fray – and stirred considerable controversy — this year.

SMU this year initiated a Colloquium on Law & Citizenship, which includes a great group of speakers.  Rose Villazor is the organizer. In just the past few weeks, Linda Bosniak (Rutgers-Camden) and Teemu Ruskola (Emory) spoke as part of the series.  Among others, Keith Aoki (UC Davis) will speak in the series in the spring.   

It seems to me that there is a lot of intellectual activity going on at SMU under the leadership of Dean John Attanasio.

The immigration conference was quite impressive.  SMU attracted a full house, including members from the community.  There was one question — the first question of the day from the audience — that reminded me that it is difficult to have a reasoned discussion on immigration reform.  After presenting a reform proposal for more liberal admissions (about which many, perhaps most, people disagree), I was asked from the audience “what part of illegal don’t you understand?”  Later, it was suggested that I was guilty of treason because I would cede U.S. sovereignty by opening the borders.  A local city council person asked me if I think that we should enforce the DUI laws (yes, I definitely do). (None of the questioners were affiliated with SMU.)

Immigration is an issue that this nation must discuss.  I wish that we could discuss it thoughtfully, sensitively, and constructively.  Sound-bites may work for Lou Dobbs but will not work in bringing about immigration reform.

KJ