NYU Law Forum—Asylum, Border Politics, and NYC

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The United States has a duty to welcome asylum seekers under federal and international law. Over the course of the last six years, however, a combination of controversial federal policies and border-state politics has obstructed many asylum seekers from pursuing their claims. Those who have been permitted to apply for asylum have found themselves in a highly politicized environment, bussed en masse by states like Texas and Florida to northern cities without notice or coordination. The arrival of tens of thousands of asylum seekers in New York City in recent months has posed a series of challenges and opportunities for the city. In this Forum, our panelists will explore how the city and its residents have responded to the arrival of asylum seekers and reimagine what it might take to welcome and support city residents—both newly-arrived and long-term—with dignity and respect.

Panelists: 

Shahana Hanif, Member, New York City Council (District 39); Chair, Committee on Immigration

Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio, Immigration Enforcement Reporter, Documented

Edafe Okporo, Founder, Refuge America; Author, Asylum: A Memoir and Manifesto (moderator)

Alina Das ’05, Professor of Clinical Law and Co-Director, Immigrant Rights Clinic, NYU School of Law

Co-hosted by the Immigrant Rights Clinic