AALS Hot Topic: Immigration & The 2016 Election

We hope you will check out what promises to be the most exciting Hot Topic Program of the AALS Annual Meeting: Immigration & The 2016 Election. It’s the only immigration-related Hot Topic program, which is all the more reason to be front and center on Saturday, January 9 from 10:30AM to 12:15PM.

Here’s what we have planed for you.

Donald Trump has been making immigration an election issue ever since his incendiary charge in June of this year that:

When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.

By August, Trump had a white paper. Other presidential hopefuls followed with their own immigration plans.

The panel will explore the legal and political ramifications of these various immigration platforms, considering both the way in which electoral politics and voting restrictions will affect the outcome of the election, and the potential for candidates to institute their immigration policy preferences once in office. In addition, we will explore what effect election politics are having on the national conversation surrounding immigration.

Immprof Deep Gulasekaram (Santa Clara) will discuss the effect of state and local immigration regulation on national policymaking, arguing that despite campaign rhetoric federal immigration reform is unlikely through the next presidential term.

Immprof Joe Landau (Fordham) will discuss the issue of immigration enforcement and how can electoral politicking might change the enforcement of immigration laws.

Prawf Gilda Daniels (Baltimore) will discuss election-law issues, including the effect political posturing on the topic of immigration might have on voting, particularly among the Latino vote. She’ll also address how the SCOTUS case Evenwel v. Abbott might affect Presidential election dynamics and immigration reform possibilities.

Finally, Journalist Maria Santana, of CNN En Español, will offer a perspective on how Spanish-language media covers immigration issues during the presidential election.

The panel will be moderated by yours truly. We hope to see you there!

-KitJ