Claire Thomas: Learning Immigration Law as a Form of Protest
From Claire Thomas, at New York Law School’s Safe Passage Project. [Thomas originally shared this on a list-serv for clinical immigration law teachers, and has graciously agreed to allow us to post a version of it here on the blog. -JKoh]:
Got home about an hour ago from teaching immigration law (3rd time; but 1st time on my own) and had to share this with you all. Tonight was our first class.
Given this horror show that is our political everything right now, I found myself focusing on the ugly. This evening gave me hope, reminded me that there is good in the world, and also reminded me of why I do what I do.
Have 16 students, 3 auditors. Asked for introductions- name, year at NYLS, why taking immigration law, and anything else wanted to share.
Students told class about their interests (intersections with criminal law, family law, business immigration, humanitarian, etc). Some shared their own (or their family’s) immigration stories. A few had sponsored spouses; many had parents who were immigrants or refugees, etc.
Then, one student very gracefully and eloquently shared the story of how her family member was deported. And she started to tear up, and the other students began crying, too. We looked for tissues. I don’t have words at present to describe how powerful it was.
The next student told us all that she was obsessed with listening to the Hamilton Mixtape (so am I; it’s my writing music actually and is on right now) and then proceeded to rap for us the lines from “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)” that moved her.
As we went around, it struck me that among other details, every student stated that s/he were taking the class to combat misinformation about immigration law in the media, political discourse, and society in general, to learn what the law is (and what the law isn’t).
Every
Single
One
In fact, quite a few explicitly stated that they were there because of the new Administration. That learning immigration law was their form of protest.
The auditors are retired NYLS alumni and all stated that they were auditing to learn immigration law so that they could devote their time and energy in retirement to helping immigrants given the election results. (Mind you that this class meets rather late- one commented that it’s “past his bedtime.”)
Finally, one student spoke about a loved one with DACA and the struggles he went through/goes through.. She started crying (as did others) and then referred my own postings about Dilley, entitled “How the F–k do you not cry” and told me she had read them.
So it was a bit of a night.
The take-away for me is that I’m lucky and they’re a great group of enthusiastic individuals who are inquisitive and appear committed to learning immigration law.
The take-away for all of us is that there are people committed to learning immigration law and to taking action. Let that bring some hope in these dark times.