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To our Arizona Law alumni, friends, students, and employees,
We have received inquiries from our students and concerned friends and alumni of the college regarding the impact of the recent Executive Orders on immigration.
I would like to take this opportunity to share the statement and information we have provided to Arizona Law students with our entire community.
You are also invited to attend a forum on legal issues raised by the Executive Orders hosted by the College of Law next Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 5:30 p.m.
Sincerely,
Marc
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Message from Arizona Law Dean Marc Miller
(Released Jan. 31, 2017)
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In the wake of the confusion over what the Executive Orders mean, and how they will be enforced, I want to emphasize the value we place on the diversity and perspective of each member of our community, including all of our international students.
We believe that different backgrounds and experiences enrich the learning environment, and we realize that having faculty, staff, and students from all over the world is essential to a great College of Law, and to a great research university.
As President Hart notes, various groups are working to persuade policymakers to address our very real concerns over the terms and scope of the Executive Orders.
I understand, as do our faculty and staff, that our many international students and our many community members from immigrant families may feel great stress and anxiety in these times. I feel this personally as the grandson of immigrants who left the Pale of Settlement to escape persecution of Jews.
The College will hold a community forum at the law school next Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the legal and policy issues raised by the Executive Orders. I encourage you to attend.
In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns, there are campus resources available to you, including the UA Office of Global Initiatives and our own Bacon Immigration Law and Policy Program. Any student concerned about their own travel plans or their own immigrant family members may schedule a confidential consultation with the Immigration Law Clinic by calling clinic director Nina Rabin or administrative associate Gloria Klinicki at 520-626-5232.
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Message to UA Community from President Ann Weaver Hart
(Released Jan. 29, 2017)
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 To UA students and employees,
The University of Arizona community has serious concerns about provisions of the Jan. 27, 2017, Executive Order suspending nonimmigrant and immigrant visas from specific countries and suspending the United States' refugee program. The Order also leaves the status of green card holders working in this country legally ambiguous while suspending admission to the United States of foreign nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen for at least 90 days.
We have received reports of students from other universities, as well as highly prized scholars, who were airborne en route to the U.S. at the time the Order was signed being detained upon arrival. We have also heard from University of Arizona students who are afraid to travel abroad, despite the legality of their visas, and we are deeply concerned for the wellbeing and treatment of our foreign students, scholars, researchers, and professors. This approach violates the principles on which international university communities of thought, learning, and research are based and will jeopardize the very mission and purpose of the university.
We oppose the Executive Order and believe that lawsuits challenging it will be successful. At least one temporary restraining order related to provisions of the Order has already been issued.
The Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), and the American Council of Education (ACE) are all working to persuade policymakers to address our concerns, and we all understand the importance of America's historic leading role in education, research, and learning, including students and scholars from around the world. The present challenge is no exception to this important role.
We recommend that international students and scholars at the University of Arizona postpone any planned international travel until this matter is resolved. The UA Office of Global Initiatives has been responding to inquiries throughout the weekend and is working to identify those in our community who are on personal travel and may be affected by the order and need our assistance.
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Arizona Law to Host Forum on Legal Issues Raised by Executive Order on Immigration, Feb. 8
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The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law will host a community forum Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 164 (Ares Auditorium) to discuss the legal and policy issues raised by the Executive Orders related to immigration and refugees. All are invited to attend.
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Law Women's Association Seeking Items for Mar. 2 Auction
Mariah White ('18), current president of the Law Women's Association, writes:
The UA Law Women's Association needs your help! Each year, LWA holds a fundraising auction where students bid on experiences with law school faculty, donated by the professors. This year, we would love to expand to offer experiences with legal professionals! This auction is a great way to acquaint students with the Tucson legal community, and for you to scout new talent. Your donation also helps fund LWA activities for next year including the welcome dinner for 1L students, speakeasys, and speaker events ... so every donation helps! In past years, LWA has also donated some of the proceeds to the law clinics, and plan to do so again this year.
The best items are the ones that are unique! Top selling events last year included hosted dinners, hiking trips, bowling, and a large poker tournament. Your donation can be a simple as taking two students out to coffee and giving them a tour of your office, or as large as a bowling game with your office and a group of students. It's up to you. Feel free to team up with your colleagues to offer items together!
If you would like to participate, please email
Sara Wright. If you would like to participate but aren't quite sure what to do, just let Sara know and she can provide some suggestions.
Thank you so much for your time and consideration in continuing LWA's tradition!
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Save the Date! LCA Annual Awards Presentation, Mar. 3
The 2017 Law College Association Annual Awards Presentation and Reception will be held on March 3, at 5 p.m. at the College of Law.
Plan to attend, and celebrate this year's awardees:
Judge Bobby Baldock ('60) (UA Alumni Association Public Service Award)
John Lacy ('67) (UA Alumni Association Professional Achievement Award)
Gabriel S. Galanda ('00) (UA Alumni Association Professional Achievement Award)
The Florence Project (Law College Association Award)
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As individuals, many members of our community feel strongly about the new Executive Orders. Many feel strongly about the changes and proposed changes in federal, state and local policy.
Our institutional role remains unchanged.
Universities and law schools have long sought to educate citizens who can respectfully and broadly engage in civil discourse and debate, and who can seek common principles and decent, fair procedures. We must continue to vigorously defend the First Amendment so that the policies and proposals can be debated and assessed.
For law schools, we should reaffirm our commitment to the rule of law, the texts and principles that are the foundation of our constitutional democracy, and the defense of free speech and academic freedom.
When responding to the winds of the day, let us keep these bedrock principles firmly in our sights.
Sincerely,
Shaping the next century of legal education
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