Thursday, September 19, 2013

BORDER CROSSERS: The Human & Financial Impact of Prosecuting Those Caught Between the Border and the Law



The following event is sponsored by the Law and Public Policy Program, a new partnership between SPEA and the Maurer School of Law. Pizza will be served:

BORDER CROSSERS: The Human & Financial Impact of Prosecuting Those Caught Between the Border and the Law

Monday, 9/23
11 a.m. – noon, pizza luncheon
Neal Marshall Center

Illegal entry and reentry (entering the US illegally and reentering after deportation) are now the most prosecuted federal crimes in the US, with over 85,000 prosecutions in 2012. In the past, border crossers were generally deported and only prosecuted if they had a serious criminal history. Now, many defendants have no or minor records, and the vast majority are trying to enter the US to reunite with family, to flee violence and persecution, or to seek work. These prosecutions are part of the rapidly growing immigration enforcement system--the budget for which is larger than the budgets of the FBI, US Marshals, and other federal law enforcement agencies combined.
Grace Meng, researcher and author of the Human Rights Watch report analyzing illegal entry and reentry prosecutions, will discuss the human and financial costs of these prosecutions, how they fit into the larger immigration enforcement system, and the human rights principles Congress should consider as it debates comprehensive immigration reform.

If you’re interested in exploring the legal issues that shape our society and want to join in more discussions like the one described above, check out SPEA’s Law and Public Policy program. This new undergraduate major (and minor!), taught by top-notch faculty from SPEA and the Maurer School of Law, includes coursework in law and cyber security, the legislative process, negotiation, and legal advocacy. Law and Public Policy is designed for students who want to pursue a career in policymaking or the legal field, or who want to put critical thinking and problem-solving skills to work for a government, business, or a nonprofit.
Questions? Contact:
Prof. Andrea Need | aneed@indiana.edu

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