Immigration Law

This survey course provides a foundation in the constitutional principles and statutory framework governing the regulation and rights of noncitizens and the immigration admission and removal process. The course also explores selected contemporary issues related to immigrants' rights and immigration reform. These may include topics such as asylum and refugee protection, due process safeguards, border enforcement, immigration detention, immigrant workers' rights, state citizenship status discrimination, judicial review by Article III courts, and current policy debates. The course draws on the instructor's decades of experience litigating constitutional and civil rights cases on behalf of noncitizens as founding director of the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project and his senior positions in the Biden and Obama administrations at the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. Guest speakers may be invited for some topics. No prior course or background in immigration law is expected. Elements used in grading: Class participation and attendance (15%), final exam (85%).