WELCOME TO THE FORD SCHOOL. IT IS LOVELY TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE IN THIS WONDERFUL EVENT. WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE ON THE FLOOR THERE'S STILL SPOTS OF SEATS AROUND IF YOU WANT TO HELP YOURSELF TO A SEAT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO THAT. I'M MICHAEL BARR. I'M THE JOAN AND SANFORD WEILL DEAN OF OUR SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU HERE THIS AFTERNOON AND TO WELCOME YOU TO THE FORD SCHOOL FOR THIS MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY EVENT. I HOPE THAT MANY OF YOU ARRIVED IN TIME TO ENJOY LUNCH AND TO VIEW THE WONDERFUL EXHIBIT IN THE GREAT HALL. THE EXHIBIT OPENED LAST WEEK AND WILL STAY UP HERE AT THE FORD SCHOOL THROUGH THE END OF THIS MONTH. IT'S THE PHOTO DOCUMENTARY WORK OF DENVER-BASED ARTIST AND EMERGING LENS WINNER RACHEL WOOLF AND IT'S ACCOMPANIED BY CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION ABOUT IMMIGRATION THAT WAS CREATED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANN LIN AND FABIANO SILVER HERE AT THE FORD SCHOOL AND STAMPS PROFESSOR AT THE STAMPS SCHOOL OF ART AND DESIGN. THE EXHIBIT CHRONICLES THE EXPERIENCES OF LONG-TIME ANN ARBOR RESIDENTS BATISTA AND HER FAMILY. MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY KNOW PART OF THE STORY OF THE SALAZAR FAMILY. I KNOW FOR LORDES'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS, MANY OF WHOM ARE HERE TODAY, THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND WHAT WE'LL EXPLORE AT TODAY'S PANEL ARE DEEPLY PERSONAL. IT'S THEIR STORY AND IT BELONGS TO THEM. YET WE'RE AT A MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY WHEN OUR ATTENTION IS RIVETED BY WHAT IS UNFOLDING ALONG OUR SHARED BORDER WITH MEXICO. IN THE HALLS OF POWER IN WASHINGTON D. C, IN OUR PUBLIC SPACES, INCLUDING AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL ITSELF, AND IN TOWNS AND CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. IMMIGRATION, THE RISING FLOW OF REFUGEES FROM COUNTRIES AFFLICTED BY VIOLENCE AND POVERTY, ARE DEFINITIONS OF INSIDER AND OUTSIDER, THOSE ISSUES REPRESENT MANY THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUAL'S STORIES AND THEY'RE ALSO PUBLIC POLICY CHALLENGES. THEY REPRESENT POLICY ISSUES AND DECISIONS THAT REALLY IN MANY WAYS SLICE STRAIGHT TO THE CORE OF WHAT AMERICA IS, WHAT AMERICA DREAMS IT MIGHT BE. IN HIS LETTER FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL DR. KING WROTE, QUOTE, WE ARE CAUGHT IN AN INESCAPABLE NETWORK OF MEW TU AT, TIED IN A SINGLE GARMENT OF DESTINY. WHATEVER AFFECTS ONE DIRECTLY AFFECTS ALL INDIRECTLY. SO I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO THE SALAZAR FAMILY FOR OPENING THEIR LIVES TO RACHEL AND HER CAMERA. THEIR STORY AND THOSE OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES LIVING IN FEAR, LIVING IN ISOLATION, HOPING FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, THOSE STORIES ARE IN A VERY REAL SENSE ALSO THE STORY OF ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM. THEY'RE ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS CITIZENS OR IMMIGRANTS OR THE CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS. WHO WE VOTE IN TO OFFICE, WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY, WHAT WE TRY TO BUILD THAT IT WILL BE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE BOTH WITH THE SALAZAR FAMILY'S EXPERIENCES AND WITH THE MANY BROAD POLICY ISSUES AROUND IMMIGRATION AND DEPORTATION. ISSUES THAT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND TO GRAPPLE WITH. OUR GUESTS FULL BIOGRAPHIES ARE PRINTED IN YOUR PROGRAM. WE'VE GATHERED A TERRIFIC GROUP OF PERSPECTIVES. I WANT TO THANK THE FORD SCHOOL'S DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION LEAD STEPHANIE SANDERS FOR ORGANIZING TODAY'S EVENT. THANK YOU STEPHANIE WHO IS SITTING IN THE BACK. [ APPLAUSE ] LET ME JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO GREET EACH OF OUR SPEAKERS. EMILIO GUITIERREZ SOTO IS A MEGS CARB JOURNALIST AND ASYLUM SEEKER WHO IS HERE AS PART OF THE KNIGHT WALLACE PROGRAM. WILLIAM LOPEZ FACULTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SCHOOL SHIRSHIP AT THE NCID. LAWRENCE SANDERS IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS. RACHEL WOOLF WHO I MENTIONED BEFORE IS AN AWARD WINNING VISUAL JOURNALIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER WHOSE WORK SHOWS ASPECTS OF HUMANITY INTERSECTING WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES. WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR PANEL LORD ES'S DAUGHTER WHO IS A COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HERE IN ANN ARBOR. FINALLY OUR HOST FOR TODAY'S EVENT, MY COLLEAGUE, PROFESSOR ANN LIN, WHO IS AN EXPERT ON IMMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION POLICY. WELCOME TO ALL OF AND THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. LET ME JUST SAY ONE WORD ON OUR FORMAT BEFORE GETTING THINGS STARTED. WE'LL HAVE SOME TIME TOWARDS THE END FOR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE. FORD SCHOOL PROFESSOR FABIANO SILVER AND TWO FORD STUDENTS WILL SIFT THROUGH YOUR QUESTION CARDS AND POSE THEM TO THE PANEL. FOR THOSE WATCHING ONLINE PLEASE TWEET YOUR QUESTIONS USING THE HASHTAG #POLICY TALKS. WITH THAT, LET ME TURN THINGS OVER TO ANN LIN. [ APPLAUSE ] >> Ann Lin: THANK YOU ALL FOR SHOWING UP ON SUCH A SNOWY AND COLD JANUARY DAY. IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE ASKED TO MODERATE THIS PANEL AND TO DO SO ON A DAY THAT WE DEDICATE TO REMEMBERING MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND THE LIVES HE AFFECTED HERE AND ALSO THE WORK AND THE IDEALS HE STANDS FOR. I WANT TO START OFF THE PANEL TODAY -- SO WE'RE HOPING TO MAKE THIS PANEL AS MUCH OF A CONVERSATION AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. I WANT TO START OFF TODAY BY ASKING LORDES IF YOU WOULD SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU THINK PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE FROM YOUR AND YOUR FAMILY'S STORY MIGHT BE? >> LORDES: HI. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT FIRST THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT CAME HERE AND TOOK THEIR TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO COME TO THIS PANEL. AND NOW TO ANSWER ANN'S QUESTION. I WOULD REALLY WANT TO SAY THAT OR REALLY SHOW EVERYONE THIS IS A REAL SITUATION THAT DOES HAPPEN, THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THIS -- OR IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE BEEN THROUGH OR ARE GOING THROUGH THIS. AND I JUST REALLY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, PUT SOME LIGHT INTO IT AND SHARE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN. BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, STAY SILENT AND DON'T SAY ANYTHING. AND THEN, LIKE, WHEN THE EVENT HAPPENS LATER ON THEY'LL REGRET NOT DOING ANYTHING AND NOT SAYING ANYTHING. AND, YEAH, SO, I JUST REALLY WANT TO SHOW EVERYONE THAT THIS IS REAL AND IT DOES HAPPEN AND YEAH >> Ann Lin: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> LAURA, I WONDER IF YOU COULD TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WASHTENAW IMMIGRANT RIGHTS -- SORRY. THE COALITION FOR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS AND HOW YOU AND THE COALITION GOT IN TOUCH WITH HER ABOUT HER CASE. >> Laura Sanders: THANK YOU. I AM A CO-FOUNDER OF THE WASHTENAW INTERFAITH COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ALONG WITH NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE. WE CAME TOGETHER IN RESPONSE TO A CRISIS IN 2008 IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT CAME IN TO A MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY AND RAIDED IT AND TOOK OUT ABOUT 21 UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS LEAVING A LOT OF FAMILIES TORN APART. THERE'S A LOT OF STORY TO THAT. THE WAY IN WHICH ICE CAME IN TO THIS COMMUNITY WAS BRUTAL. THEY BUSTED INTO TRAILERS. THEY HANDCUFFED AND THREW PEOPLE ON THE FLOOR. THEY WERE SUPPORTED AND AIDED BY LOCAL POLICE. SO IT WAS A REAL TRAGEDY. IT WAS A BIG CRISIS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ROMERO MY SPACE WHO IS HERE, ROMERO MARTINEZ AND MELANIE HARNER IS WHO ALSO HERE ARE BOTH ORIGINAL CO-FOUNDERS. WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT MELANIE WAS LIVING IN THAT COMMUNITY AT THE TIME AND GOT IN TOUCH WITH US AND HER MOTHER AND WE HAD BEEN WORKING ON DIFFERENT THINGS TOGETHER HAVING TO DO WITH IMMIGRANT RIGHTS. AND WE DECIDED TO CALL TOGETHER A MAJOR MEETING. YOU KNOW, OLD FASHIONED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING STYLE. I WENT IN TO MY COMMUNITY. I AM A SOCIAL WORKER. I AM A THERAPIST. I AM A FEMINIST. I'M ON THE LGBTQ'S SPECTRUM. SO I'VE DONE ACTIVISM IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME. SO I WENT IN TO MY COMMUNITY AND PULLED AS MANY PEOPLE. MELANIE AND MARGARET, HER MOTHER, WENT INTO THEIR COMMUNITY. THEY'RE VERY ROOTED IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY, BROUGHT IN MANY, MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT FAITHS. WE ALSO HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM ACADEMIC ORGANIZATIONS, PEACE AND JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS, SHOW UP AT THAT MEETING. AND WE HAD ABOUT FIFTY PEOPLE WHO RESPONDED TO THAT ORIGINAL CRISIS. SO WE PULLED TOGETHER BY THE NEXT SATURDAY WHICH WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE EASTER WE HAD 150 PEOPLE AT OUR MEETING. AND THAT WAS REALLY THE BIRTH OF THE WASHTENAW INTERFAITH COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO US TO ELEVATE THE VOICES OF THE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY. AND THE FIRST THING THAT PEOPLE SAID THEY REALLY NEEDED WAS A TELEPHONE WHERE THEY COULD CALL IF SOMETHING -- IF DETAINMENT OR IF THEY WERE AT RISK OF DETAINMENT OR DEPORTATION. AND SO WE SET THAT UP. AND EVER SINCE, SO SINCE 2008, WE HAVE CARRIED A PHONE. AND WE NOW HAVE HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS, MANY PEOPLE HAVE MADE DONATIONS, HAVE ATTENDED WICKER EVENTS. AND WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED WITH CAMPAIGNS TO STOP PEOPLE'S DEPORTATIONS AND JUST MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. IN FACT, IF I COULD JUST TAKE A SECOND, I'D LIKE ANYBODY WHO HAS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH WICKER AT ANY TIME STAND UP PLEASE. PLEASE. ANYBODY WHO HAS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH WICKER STAND UP. [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT IT IS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. THE WAY THAT WE GOT IN TOUCH WITH LORDES IS LORDES WAS DETAINED AND PUT IN JAIL FOR 23 DAYS IN 2010. SHE WAS APPREHENDED IN FRONT OF HER CHILDREN AS THEY WERE GOING TO SCHOOL. SHE WAS, AS I SAID, SHE WAS DETAINED FOR 23 DAYS. AND IMMIGRATION MADE SOME VERY BIZARRE TRADE WHERE INSTEAD OF DEPORTING LORDES, THEY DEPORTED HER HUSBAND. SO THEY TRADED HER OFF. AND THEY DEPORTED LUIS, HER HUSBAND, IN THE END OF THE SUMMER OF 2010. WHEN LORDES WAS RELEASED, SHE CAME TO, AT THE TIME, ROMERO AND I WERE LIVING IN ANN ARBOR AND SHE HEARD ABOUT WICKER AND WE WERE JUST TWO YEARS OLD AT THAT TIME. SHE CAME TO OUR DOOR, AND WE INTERVIEWED HER IN OUR KITCHEN. AND IT WAS A LONG CONVERSATION. AND WE ASKED HER WHAT SHE NEEDS. THAT'S THE WAY WE OPERATE IN WICKER. WE TRY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED. AND SHE WANTED US TO HELP HER STOP HER DEPORTATION. BUT SHE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHETHER SHE WAS GOING TO GO PUBLIC. AND IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY HARD DECISION FOR HER. BY THE END OF THAT MEETING, WE WERE TAKING PICTURES OF HER HOLDING A SIGN SAYING "I AM NOT A CRIMINAL" AND SHE WAS STARTING TO GET READY TO MAKE A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN TO STOP HER DEPORTATION. AT THE TIME, SHE WAS VERY, VERY SCARED. I'LL TELL YOU, THE LORDES SALAZAR BAUTISTA THAT I KNOW TODAY IS A WONDERFULLY EMPOWERED PERSON AND SO ARE HER YOUNG DAUGHTERS, PAMELA AND LORDES. WE'RE JUST THRILLED TO HAVE THEIR TWO VOICES STILL HERE, ABLE TO SPEAK FOR FOR THEIR FAMILY. WHAT WE DECIDED WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO STOP HER DEPORTATION. THERE WAS A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT GOT INVOLVED. MANY, MANY VOLUNTEERS. WE DID EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY COULD. WE MADE CALLS TO I.C.E. WE PUT OUT A PETITION ONLINE. WE HAD LETTERS FROM PRINCIPALS AND CITY COUNCIL. WE WENT TO CITY COUNCIL, WE GOT RESOLUTIONS PASSED ON HER BEHALF. I MEAN, WE JUST WENT TO ALL THE CHURCHES, EVERYBODY FROM CHURCHES. WE DID PHONE MARATHONS. WE HAD VIGILS. WE HAD A MARCH. WE JUST PULLED IN AS MANY PEOPLE. WE REALLY LAUNCHED -- AND IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME DOING THAT -- WE LAUNCHED A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON BEHALF OF LORDES. AND THE DAY BEFORE SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE -- BECAUSE THEY STILL WERE GOING TO DEPORT HER, EVEN THOUGH THEY TRADED OFF HER HUSBAND, THEY WERE GOING TO DEPORT HER. AND SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEPORTED ON, LIKE, CHRISTMAS EVE OF THAT YEAR. AND THE DAY BEFORE WE GOT NOTIFICATION THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TEMPORARILY STOP HER DEPORTATION, ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT IS CALLED A STAY OF REMOVAL AT I.C.E. AND SO SHE WAS OBVIOUSLY WE WERE THRILLED. WE TRIED TO FIND OUT WHAT WORKED IN TERMS OF STOPPING HER DEPORTATION. AND THE WORD FROM WASHINGTON WAS THAT WE THREW SO MANY PANCAKES AGAINST THE WALL THAT SOMETHING STUCK. BUT NOBODY -- THEY DIDN'T WANT US TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT STUCK. SO FAST FORWARD FIVE YEARS. EVERY YEAR WE HAD TO PUT UP ANOTHER LETTER OF REQUEST FOR A STAY OF DEPORTATION. AND AS LONG AS OBAMA WAS IN OFFICE AND HE HAD CERTAIN PRIORITIES IN PLACE WHERE LORDES AND HER FAMILY WERE NOT IN THE PRIORITY FOR DEPORTATION GROUP, WE WERE ABLE TO GET HER DEPORTATION -- SHE WAS LIVING IN LIMBO. SHE DIDN'T HAVE A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP OR ANYTHING, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET HER DEPORTATION STOPPED FOR FIVE YEARS. AND AS SOON AS TRUMP CAME IN, THEY WERE ONCE AGAIN WARNING HER THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE DEPORTED. AND ANOTHER CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED. LUC IS HERE, MARIA IS HERE. PEOPLE WHO WERE VERY, VERY ACTIVE IN HER -- IN THE SECOND WAVE REALLY OF TRYING TO STOP LORDES'S DEPORTATION. WE DID THE SAME THING. A HUGE CAMPAIGN. AND BUT THEY DEPORTED HER ANYWAY. MY OWN FEELING IS THAT LORDES'S CASE HAS BECOME VERY FAMOUS. THEY'RE DEPORTING ALMOST EVERYONE NOW. THE PRIORITIES THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA HAD PUT IN TO PLACE HAVE BEEN TRASHED, BASICALLY. AND I THINK THEY WERE LETTING US KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE GOING TO DEPORT LORDES AND IT WAS AN EXAMPLE, AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW, WHICH IS NOBODY IS SAFE REALLY FROM DEPORTATION. SO THAT'S REALLY HOW WICKER HAS BEEN INVOLVED. >> Ann Lin: THANKS SO MUCH. RACHEL I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN ADD TO THE CONVERSATION AND JUST TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED WITH THIS CASE. >> Rachel Woolf: SURE. I MET LORDES WHEN SHE WAS LATER ON IN HER CAMPAIGN, THE SECOND BIG CAMPAIGN SHE DID IN 2017. AND IT WAS AROUND THAT TIME WHEN SHE REACHED OUT TO I THINK HER CAMPAIGN WAS REACHING OUT TO TRY TO FIND PEOPLE TO TELL HER STORY. AND THAT WAS BASICALLY HOW I MET LORDES. THROUGH A FRIEND OF A FRIEND THAT REACHED OUT AND SAID HEY THESE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO GET HER STORY OUT. THEN I WENT OVER TO HER HOUSE AND MET LUIS AND THE FAMILY. AND WE CONNECTED AND TALKED AND I EXPLAINED WHAT I DO AND WE JUST STARTED FROM THERE. SO THEN I STUCK WITH HER AND DOCUMENTED ALL SHE WAS GOING THROUGH IN THOSE WEEKS. THEN SHE WAS DEPORTED ON AUGUST 1, 2017. THEN I WENT BACK TO MEXICO TWO TIMES AFTER THAT. WHAT MY -- WHAT I HOPE TO DO IS TRY TO SHOW THIS FAMILY IN A WAY THAT SHOWS THEIR DIGNITY AND SHOWS THEIR STRENGTH. BECAUSE AS LAURA MENTIONED, LORDES IS STILL FIGHTING AND HAS FOUGHT SO HARD AND AS HAS ALL OF HER FAMILY. SO I GOT INVOLVED TO TRY TO HELP IN WHICHEVER WAY I COULD AS A PHOTOJOURNALIST AND DOCUMENT TEARIAN. >> Ann Lin: THANK YOU, RACHEL. LORDES'S STORY OF COURSE IS ONLY ONE OF MANY STORIES, MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVE FOUND THAT DESPITE THE FACT THEY'VE LIVED IN THE U.S. FOR A LONG TIME, DESPITE THE FACT THEY MAY HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE U.S. CITIZENS, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DEAN PORTED. -- DEPORTED. AND, PHIL, I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT THE SORT OF LARGER CONTEXT OF THIS. YOU HAVE BEEN ACTIVE WITH THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY HERE IN WASHTENAW COUNTY AND YOU'VE ALSO SPOKEN TO BOTH IMMIGRANTS, ACTIVISTS, BUT ALSO LAW ENFORCEMENT ABOUT THE PROCESS OF DEPORTATION. SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT THAT >> SURE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THESE STORIES INVOLVE UNIQUE LIVES. BUT THEY ALSO TEACH US WHAT IMMIGRATION LOOKS LIKE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. AND I THINK IN THIS CASE OFTEN IN THE MIDWEST. SO IN THE MIDWEST IT LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN BORDER ENFORCEMENT ON THE SOUTH, FOR EXAMPLE,, ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER, WHERE YOU SEE BORDER PATROL DRIVING AROUND AND PEOPLE COME IN CONTACT WITH THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM BECAUSE OF DHS AND BECAUSE OF BORDER PATROL. HERE IT'S VERY OFTEN BECAUSE OF POLICE COLLABORATION WITH IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT THAT FOLKS WIND UP IN THESE SYSTEMS. YOU KNOW, AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE AND IT'S VERY CLEAR WE OFTEN ON THE NATIONAL SCALE THINK ABOUT AND COUNT THE DEPORTATIONS, TAKE THAT AS A MEASURE OF WHAT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT LOOKS LIKE. WHAT WE CAN SEE IS THAT EVERYONE DEPORTED IS GENERALLY CONNECTED TO A FAMILY. AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES IS GENERALLY CONNECTED TO A COMMUNITY. AND HERE WE SAW A STRONG FAMILY BOTH IN THE ORANGE ORIGINAL DEPORTATION OF LORDES'S HUSBAND. WE SEE THE IMPACT FOR CHILDREN, HUSBANDS, WIVES. THEN WE SEE THE IMPACTS ON COMMUNITIES AND THE WAY COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER AFTER THESE EVENTS. >> Ann Lin: IS THERE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR, BILL, THAT STRIKES YOU ABOUT HOW THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN WASHTENAW COMMUNITY HAS INVOLVED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS? >> William Lopez: I CERTAINLY FEEL LUCKIY. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK AS BOTH A RESEARCHER AND ADVOCATE THANKS TO WICKER ALLOWING ME TO WORK ALONG SIDE THEM MANY TIMES. AND I SEE THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM WHO ALLOWED THAT WORK TO HAPPEN, THAT COLLABORATION TO HAPPEN. THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT I'M REALLY PROUD OF IN OUR COUNTY. ONE IS THAT WICKER HAS BEEN VERY CREATIVE IN THEIR COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY. THERE WAS, FOLLOWING THE -- YOU KNOW LAURA MENTIONED THE RAID IN IN 2013. WE COLLABORATED WITH WICKER AND INTERVIEWED THE FOLKS IN THE RAID BOTH HERE AND THOSE DEPORTED AND WE WROTE SOME ACADEMIC PIECES ABOUT THESE. AND THESE ARE THE ONLY PIECES THAT EXIST ABOUT IMMIGRATION RAIDS. BECAUSE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THESE ARE CHALLENGING THINGS TO STUDY FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. THERE'S A BOOK THAT WILL BE COMING OUT ABOUT THAT RAID IN THE FUTURE. THAT IS ALL BECAUSE OF SPECIFICALLY MELANIE AND ROMERO SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THAT -- SUPPORTING THAT WORK. THE OTHER THING I THINK THAT WIGER HAS DONE IS THAT THERE'S -- WE'VE BEEN FORCED TO, RATHER, BE CREATIVE IN THE WAY THAT WE'VE SUPPORTED OUR COMMUNITY. WE OPERATED THE URGENT RESPONSE LINE FOR QUITE A WHILE. AND I'VE SEEN DISTINCT PIVOTS. ORIGINALLY THERE WAS YEARS WHEN WE WERE PROVIDING WE CAN HELP YOU GET IN CONTACT WITH A LAWYER. THEN YEARS WHERE WE CAN HELP YOU APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS BECAUSE DACA CAME OUT. THEN A WHILE WE WERE FOCUSING ON ANTI-DEPORTATION CAMPAIGNS. THE LATEST PIVOT AND THE ONE I THINK IS THE MOST CHALLENGING BUT THE ONE I AM MOST PROUD OF IS WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WIN AND LOSE DEPORTATION CASES NOW? WE CAN NO LONGER COUNT -- WE CAN NO LONGER TO SEEK ONLY TO WIN DEPORTATION CASES. WE HAVE TO THINK DEEPER AND HOW TO SUPPORT FAMILIES NO MATTER WHAT THE END RESULT IS. WHETHER IT'S DEPORTATION OR THE INDIVIDUAL STAYS. WE HAVE TO SPEAK WITH TEACHERS ABOUT WHETHER THE KIDS HAVE COUNSELING AND KIDS CAN CONTINUE EATING. WE HAVE TO FIND JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT FOR FOLKS. BECAUSE THESE CASES ARE EXPENSIVE. SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE IMMIGRANT AND THE MIXED STATUS, I CALL OUR COMMUNITY A MIXED STATUS COMMUNITY, GROW IN THE WAY THAT WE THINK ABOUT SUPPORTING FOLKS AND GROW IN THE WAY THAT WE THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT >> Ann Lin: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANT TO TURN TO EMILIO GUTIERREZ SOTO FOR A SECOND. EE MILIO YOU HERE IN TWO IDENTITIES. ONE AS A MEXICAN JOURNALIST, SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE FROM THE MEXICO SIDE. AND THEN ALSO SOMEBODY WHO HAS APPLIED FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM TO THE UNITED STATES. AND WHO, DURING THAT PROCESS, HAS FACED A LONG SERIES OF DELAYS, AND ALSO FOR A WHILE DETENTION. SO FIRST WHAT I AM JUST GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO IS START FROM THE HAT THAT YOU WEAR OF THE MEXICAN JOURNALIST. AND IF YOU CAN TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THESE AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN DEPORTED TO MEXICO OR WHO ARE NOW LEAVING THE U.S. BECAUSE THEY'RE FEARFUL OF LOWE LORDES >> Emilio Gutierrez Soto: THE MEXICANS RETURNED TO MEXICO, MANY OF THEM HAVE MADE THEIR LIVES IN THE UNITED STATES. AND THEY ARE ARRIVING TO MEXICO COMPLETELY UNINTEGRATED. MANY OF THEM DON'T EVEN SPEAK SPANISH. JUST LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER, THEY LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY IN LIMBO, BUT THEY ARRIVE IN MEXICO AND THEY JUST FIND THEMSELVES IN A DIFFERENT LIMBO. WHICH IS EVEN MORE CRITICAL BECAUSE THERE IS MORE POVERTY. CURRENTLY, THEY COULD NOT ACCESS A BETTER QUALITY EDUCATION. AND THAT IS THE WALL THEY HAVE TO FACE OR THAT THEY ENCOUNTER WHEN THEY ARRIVE BACK IN TO MEXICO. BECAUSE THEY BECOME IMMIGRANTS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. I HAVE MET SEVERAL PEOPLE BEFORE I CAME IN TO THE UNITED STATES THAT HAD BEEN DEPORTED AND IT IS VERY SAD TO SEE HOW CAN THEY NOT EXPRESS THEMSELVES OR HOW CAN THEY NOT MAKE REAL CONTACT WITH THE COMMUNITY OR WITH THE SOCIETY BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE. MANY TIMES THEY DON'T EVEN SPEAK THE LANGUAGE. MANY OF THEM, WITHOUT A FAMILY OR WITH VERY REMOTE RELATIVES. FOR ME, IT WAS VERY SAD TO OBSERVE THAT. >> Ann Lin: THANK YOU. EMILIO, AS WE SAID EARLIER, YOU ARE ALSO AN ASYLUM SEEKER TO THE UNITED STATES. THERE IS A STORY TODAY IN POLITICO THAT EMILIO WROTE WHICH IS ABOUT HIS CASE. AND THE STORY IS CALLED "I'M SAFE BUT I'M NOT FREE." AND SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THAT STORY LATER ON, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW SOME MORE DETAILS ABOUT HIS ASYLUM CASE. BUT TODAY I AM WONDERING, EMILIO, IF YOU WOULD JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY YOU ASKED FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM IN THE U.S. AND THEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE YOU REQUESTED ASYLUM. >> Emilio Gutierrez Soto: I REQUESTED POLITICAL ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2008. AFTER THE MEXICAN PRESIDENT, MR. CALDERON, INITIATED OR STARTED A WAR AGAINST DRUGS. AND THAT CREATED OR CAUSED THAT THE SOLDIERS WERE ON THE STREETS. AS A RESULT OF THE SOLDIERS BEING ON THE STREETS, THAT'S WHEN THE VIOLENCE WAS INCREASED IN A NATIONAL LEVEL. THEY TRIED TO PUT OUT A FIRE WITH GASOLINE. PRIOR TO 2008 I WAS THREATENED BY THE ARMY. IN 2008, THAT WAS WHEN THE HOMICIDES AGAINST NEWSPAPER PEOPLE OR REPORTERS STARTED OR BECAME GREATER. WHEN I START NOTICING THAT THE MILITARIES WERE TAKING MORE INTEREST ON MYSELF AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND AS A FAMILY, THAT VERY SAME DAY I DECIDED TO HIDE IN A FRIEND'S HOUSE. HOWEVER, THAT SAME NIGHT, THAT VERY NIGHT, SOMEBODY CALLED ME ON THE PHONE AND TOLD ME THEY'RE GOING TO KILL YOU. I ASKED HIM HOW HE KNEW THIS. HE TELLS ME, I HAVE A RELATIVE THAT IS WITHIN THE ARMY'S TEAM THAT IS COMING TO KILL YOU. AT THAT MOMENT, I TOOK AN INSTANT DECISION. I TOOK MY SON AND THE VERY SAME FRIEND THAT LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, SHE TOOK US TO A RANCH, TO A FARM, SO THAT WE COULD HIDE. THERE WAS NO OTHER DOOR EXCEPT THE ONE INTO THE UNITED STATES. AND THE DECISION WAS TO COME TO THE ENTRY PORT IN NEW MEXICO AND REQUEST POLITICAL ASYLUM. WE WERE ARRESTED. AND A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, WE WERE SEPARATED. I KNOW THE SUBJECT VERY, VERY WELL. THE PAINFUL, CRIMINAL SEPARATION OF FAMILIES. SEVEN-AND-A-HALF MONTHS I WAS KEPT CAPTIVE IN ONE OF THOSE CONCENTRATION CAMPS THAT I.C.E. HAS. MY SON WAS UNDER ARREST FOR TWO-AND-A-HALF MONTHS. AND DURING THAT TIME I ONLY HAD THE OCCASION OR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH HIM FOR THREE TIMES. FOR FIVE MINUTES EACH TIME. MAYBE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE WAY THEY DESTROY KIDS AND OTHER LESSONS LIVES BECAUSE OF CRIMINAL POLITICS. IN THOSE DETENTION CENTERS, WHICH I CALL "CONCENTRATION CAMPS," WHAT IS IN LEAST EXISTENCE IS HUMAN TREATMENT. IF YOU ARE NOT SICK, YOU WILL GET SICK. AND THE OFFICERS, MANY OF THEM WITHOUT EVEN MIDDLE LEVEL EDUCATION, ARE IN CHARGE OF BEING RUDE TO THE IMMIGRANTS UNDER ARREST. BAD FOOD. POOR SLEEPING CONDITIONS. THE STRESS GENERATED WITH HAVING TO LIVE WITH 100 PEOPLE IN THE SAME ROOM. THE STALKING OR THE STRESS FRA THOSE OFFICIALS THAT ARE DOING THE DIRTY WORK FOR I.C.E. ALL THESE ARE JUST THE RESULTS THAT ARE CREATED BY TRYING TO APPLY THE IMMIGRATION LAWS. THAT ARE PART OF INTERNATIONAL POLICIES THAT ARE REFERRED TO AS HUMANISTIC. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE IMMIGRATION POLICIES OF THIS COUNTRY. MANY PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED OR SCARED WHEN I MENTION THAT. FOR THE IMMIGRANTS THAT ARRIVE INTO THIS COUNTRY. BUT THE IMMIGRANTS ARRIVING TO THIS COUNTRY FROM MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA OR OTHER COUNTRIES, ARE PART ARE AS A RESULT OF THE POVERTY THAT WAS CREATED OR CAUSED WITHIN THOSE COUNTRIES. AND THAT'S WHY WE WORK, MYSELF AS A NEWS REPORTER, TO BE CRITICAL ABOUT THAT. AND THAT IS MY WORK IN CONJUNCTION OR IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE COMMUNITIES AND WITH THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY TO WORK TOGETHER TO BE MORE BROT BROTHERLY TO OUR WORK AND MORE FAIR TO OUR IMMIGRANTS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS. NO ONE, NO ONE WANTS TO LEAVE THEIR OWN COUNTRY, THEIR OWN SOCIETY. SOME OF US LEAVE -- SOME LEAVE BECAUSE THEY'RE HUNGRY, SOME BECAUSE OF VIOLENCE, BUT AT THE END WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR LIBERTY. MY SON AND I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR TEN-AND-A-HALF YEARS. RESCOMBES -- REQUESTING POLITICAL ASYLUM. THE THING THAT WE LACK THE MOST IS FREEDOM. WE HAVE SAFETY, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE FREEDOM. OUR CASE HAS BEEN USED AS A EXAMPLE FOR OTHER CASES WHICH HAVE BEEN RESOLVED IN A FAVOR -- WHICH HAVE HAD A FAVORABLE RESULT. THAT CAUSES HAPPINESS AND SATISFACTION TO ME. BUT IT ALSO MAKES ME VERY, VERY SAD THAT MY CASE, OUR PARTICULAR CASE BECAME FROM BEING A IMMIGRATION CASE, IT BECAME A POLITICAL -- A PERSONAL CASE WITH A IMMIGRATION JUDGE. AND THAT'S WHY I KEEP ON SAYING THAT THE IMMIGRATION POLICIES SOMETIMES ARE APPLIED BASED ON THE MOOD OF THE JUDGE OF THE ATTORNEYS OR EVEN THE OFFICERS. AND FINALLY, THEREFORE, IMMIGRATION LAWS BECOME USELESS. AND I MYSELF HAVE BECOME A PERSONAL EXAMPLE OF THAT THAT I'VE BEEN REQUESTING POLITICAL ASYLUM FOR TEN-AND-A-HALF YEARS. THANK YOU >> Ann Lin: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR STORY, EMILIO. I WANT TO REMIND YOU ALL, THAT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF ANYBODY ON THE PANEL, FORD SCHOOL STAFF ARE WALKING AROUND WITH QUESTIONS CARDS, SLIPS. FEEL FREE TO REQUEST A SLICH AND WRITE YOUR QUESTION AND WE'LL GET IT SENT DOWN TO BE READ. I ALSO WANT TO INTRODUCE BRIEFLY THE PEOPLE WILL BE HANDLING QUESTIONS TODAY. PROFESSOR FABIANO SILVA WHO IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR HERE AT THE FORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY. YVONNE WHO IS A JUNIOR HERE IN PUBLIC POLICY AT THE FORD SCHOOL. AND JONATHAN ESPINOZA WHO IS A FIRST YEAR MASTERS OF PUBLIC POLICY STUDENT. I'D LIKE TO START GETTING THE QUESTIONS IN SO WE CAN HAVE MORE OF A CONVERSATION. SO DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION READY FOR US? >> HELLO. I AM A SENIOR AT THE FORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY. AS ANN DOCUMENTED DUE STUDENTS I VALUE EVERYONE HERE TODAY. WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE POLITICAL POWER OF GROUPS. AS VOTED IN THE MLK KEYNOTE SESSION IMMIGRATION POLICY IS A REFLECTION OF THE POLITICAL POWER OF GROUPS. WHY HAVE THOSE SUPPORTING DEPORTATION GAINED POWER? AND HOW DO WE SHIFT POWER TO THOSE WHO WELCOME IMMIGRANTS? >> Ann Lin: SO WHY HAVE THE PEOPLE WHO -- THE GROUPS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED DEPORTATION GAINED POWER AND HOW DOES THAT SHIFT? IS THAT THE QUESTION? GREAT. WOULD SOMEBODY ON THE PANEL LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT? >> I'M HAPPY TO MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT IT. I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON IT. BUT WE KNOW THAT SINCE -- THERE WASN'T REALLY A DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY UNTIL 9/11. AND AFTER 9/11 WE PUT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IN PLACE. IT IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. AND WE PUT IMMIGRATION, PROCESSION OF IMMIGRATION APPLICATIONS UNDER NOW A LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT. WE ALSO PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN TO IT. AND ALL IN THE NAME OF, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO KEEP THE COUNTRY SAFE FROM TERRORISM. THE UNITED STATES HAS THE LARGEST LAND BORDER IN THE WORLD BETWEEN A HIGHLY DEVELOPED COUNTRY AND A DEVELOPING COUNTRY. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE CROSS-MIGRATION. THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN INTERNATIONAL CROSS MIGRATION. THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES COMING AND MAKING MONEY, GOING HOME, BUYING A TRUCK, GOING HOME, MAKING -- BUILDING HOUSES. YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF CROSS-MIGRATION THAT WE DIDN'T REALLY PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO UNTIL AFTER 9/11. AND IT'S OUR IMPRESSION, AND THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE UNDOCUMENTED MEXICAN AND CENTRAL AMERICAN AND SOUTH AMERICAN COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN SCAPEGOATED BY THE INTENTIONS OF THE IMMIGRATION -- OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. AND VERY MUCH IT IS A RACIST WAR. IT IS A RACIST AGENDA. BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER THE BROWNING OF AMERICA, RIGHT. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTH AMERICA AND CENTRAL AMERICA COMING. AND IT SET UP A PERFECT FORUM, REALLY, FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO GAIN AND KEEP GAINING POWER. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. I'M SURE THERE'S MORE TO IT >> SURE. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I CAN ADD TO THAT IS IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE WAY IN WHICH THESE DIFFERENT STRUGGLES OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES CAN AND SHOULD BE LINKED IN OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS, RIGHT. AN EXAMPLE THAT I THINK OF RECENTLY IS WE THINK OF THE TEAR GAS SHOT ACROSS THE U.S. BORDER IN TO MEXICO. AND I THINK OF THE TEAR GAS SHOT AT THE PROTESTERS AT STANDING ROCK. AND I THINK OF THE TEAR GAS SHOT BY OFFICERS IN FERGUSON, MISSOURI. AND THESE ARE THREE DIFFERENT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, RIGHT. WE THINK OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, WE THINK OF IMMIGRANTS CROSSING THE BORDERS IN LATINO COMMUNITYS AND MEXICAN FAMILY IN THIS CASE. WE THINK OF PROTESTERS IN FERGUSON PROTESTING POLICE VIOLENCE. AND STATE SANCTIONED KILLINGS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN. THEN WE THINK OF WATER PROTECTORS WHO ARE PROTESTING MAKING A PROFIT OFF OF OUR RESOURCES, RIGHT. THESE ARE THE SAME COMMUNITIES FIGHTING THE SAME STATE-SANCTIONED VIOLENCE AND MILITARIZATION. BUT WE OFTEN DIVIDE THEM IN OUR ADDV ADVOCACY. WE OFTEN THINK OF WHICH PARTICULAR POLICY AM I GOING TO WORK AGAINST INSTEAD OF THINKING HOW WE CAN UNIFY ALONG THE LINES OF DIGNITY FOR PEOPLE FROM MULTIPLE MARGINALIZED GROUPS >> OKAY MY NAME IS JONATHAN ESPINOZA. AS SAN ANTONIO SAID, I AM A FIRST YEAR MASTERS OF OF PUBLIC POLICY STUDENT HERE AT THE FORD SCHOOL. AND WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM THE AUDIENCE. I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT IMMIGRATION LAW. ARE IMMIGRATION LAWYERS EFFECTIVE? DO THEY HAVE THEIR CLIENT'S BEST INTEREST IN MIND? HOW MUCH INFLUENCE DOES A GOOD OR BAD LAWYER HAVE IN THE VERDICT OF AN IMMIGRANT'S CASE? >> Ann Lin: I'M GOING TAKE THAT TO START OUT WITH THEN SEE IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO ADD IT. SO IMMIGRATION LAWYERS DO REALLY INVALUABLE WORK IN INTERPRETING WHAT IS OFTEN A VERY COMPLICATED SET OF LAWS. NOT ONLY LAWS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE UNDOCUMENTED IN THE U.S. AND ARE ARRESTED, DO YOU HAVE RIGHTS, CAN YOU ASK FOR PERMISSION TO STAY IN THE U.S. BUT ALSO THE VERY COMPLICATED SERIES OF LAWS THAT ARE ABOUT HOW SOMEONE ENTERS LEGALLY INTO THE U.S. OUR PRESIDENT OFTEN SAYS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD COME TO THE U.S. THE RIGHT WAY. AND I THINK MANY PEOPLE WOULD AGREE WITH HIM. BUT IT'S VERY HARD -- BUT PEOPLE OFTEN DON'T REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT WAY TO COME TO THE U.S. IT IS NOT AS EASY AS FILLING OUT AN APPLICATION AND WAITING FOR YOUR TURN IN LINE. BUT WE HAVE MANY DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE, MANY DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF VISAS. SOME OF THOSE HAVE LONG WAITING LISTS. SOME OF THOSE ARE ONLY APPLICABLE TO PEOPLE WITH CERTAIN TYPES OF SKILLS OR A PARTICULAR FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE U.S. AND SO IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO COME TO THE U.S. TO WORK, TO MAKE A LIVING AND TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE WILL FIND NO CATEGORY OF VISA AVAILABLE TO THEM AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COME TO THE U.S. LEGALLY WITH A VISA. IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T DO, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE KINDS OF CATEGORIES THAT WE HAVE CREATED FOR ADMISSION TO THE UNITED STATES. SO IMMIGRATION LAWYERS ARE OFTEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN HELPING PEOPLE SORT OF THINK ABOUT WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE IN ARRIVING IN THE U.S. THEY'RE ALSO EXTREMELY HELPFUL ON THE BACK END WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEBODY IS AT RISK OF DEPORTATION. ONE OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES HERE IS WHEN WE LOOK AT PEOPLE WHO ARE CLAIMING ASYLUM. SO PEOPLE WHO LIKE EMILIO WHO HAVE BEEN REQUESTING SAFETY IN THE U.S. AND WHAT WE WILL FIND IS IF YOU HAVE AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER YOU ARE MORE THAN 100 PERCENT MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A FAVORABLE -- NOT A FAVORABLE -- NOT JUST A FAVORABLE ANSWER TO YOUR ASYLUM CASE, NOT JUST ALLOWING YOU TO HAVE ASYLUM, BUT ACTUALLY EVEN GETTING THROUGH THE STAGES OF THE ASYLUM PROCESS. THAT IS LAWYERS ARE EXTREMELY HELPFUL WHEN YOU GO FROM THE INITIAL IMMIGRATION APPOINTMENT WITH AN ASYLUM OFFICER TO THEN APPEARING BEFORE AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE. IF YOU GET A NEGATIVE ANSWER TO THEN APPEALING TO A BOARD OF APPEALS. AND OUR SYSTEM DOES NOT GUARANTEE LAWYERS TO PEOPLE WHO COME WHO ARE ASKING FOR ASYLUM CASES. OUR SYSTEM DOES NOT GUARANTEE LAWYERS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE FIGHTING A DEPORTATION CASE. AND, BECAUSE OF THAT, THE LAWYERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE ARE VERY OFTEN LAWYERS THAT HAVE FOCUSED ON THESE CASES AND ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY OR PRO BONO LAWYERS. LAWYERS WHO MAY NOT EVEN SPECIALIZE IN IMMIGRATION LAW BUT ARE WILLING TO TAKE A PARTICULAR CASE WITHOUT PAY. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY WANTS TO ADD TO THAT? >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY ON THE LOCAL LEVEL WE AT WICKER, WE HAVE DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAWYERS THAT WE TRUST. THERE'S GOOD IMMIGRATION LAWYERS AND THERE'S REALLY BAD IMMIGRATION LAWYERS. AND LORDES'S CASE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT. THE LAWYER THAT SHE WAS ORIGINALLY WORKING WITH WHO ARRANGED THIS INTERESTING TRADE BETWEEN HER HUSBAND AND HER WAS AT THE END CHARGING HER $20,000, HAVING HER CLEAN HER HOUSE, HAVING HER BRING HER TAMALES. HAVING HER CLEAN HER MOTHER'S HOUSE. AND WE SWITCHED OUT AND MADE SURE SHE GOT A NEW LAWYER. SO WE GOT -- SO THIS IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE TO GET THE RIGHT KIND OF LEGAL HELP. THEN MY ONLY OTHER COMMENT IS BACK IN THE BIGGER PICTURE. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE INCREDIBLE PUSHES AND PULLS TO UNDOCUMENTED AND IMMIGRATION COMING ACROSS OUR BORDER. AND WE ARE -- A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IS THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE IMMIGRATION ISSUES. THE U.S., WITH OUR ECONOMIC POLICIES AND OUR POLICIES ON WEAPONS AND TRADE, WE HAVE CREATED A LOT OF THE POVERTY THAT'S IN THE SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES AND CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES THAT CREATE THE PUSH FOR PEOPLE TO COME OVER OUR BORDER. AND AT WICKER WE THINK VERY GLOBALLY, BUT WE WORK LOCALLY. SO WE THINK A LOT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE U.S. IS INVOLVED IN CREATING THIS PROBLEM. AND WE THINK THAT PEOPLE OF GOOD FAITH, WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING, WILL TAKE ACTION AND MAKE -- AND CORRECT THOSE POLICIES. >> Ann Lin: THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? Y YENS. >> WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES SUPPORTED DUE TO DEPORTATION? HOW DO FAMILIES DEAL WITH THIS CHALLENGE? >> Emilio Gutierrez Soto: IN REALITY, FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE DEPORTED, THERE IS NO OPPORTUNITIES ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN RETURNED OR SENT BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY. AS AN EXAMPLE, A PERSON THAT HAS BEEN DEPORTED AND CROSSES FROM EL PASO TO JUAREZ, MAYBE HE OR SHE WILL HAVE A BUS TICKET TO ARRIVE TO HIS TOWN. BUT ONCE YOU ARRIVE IN TO YOUR TOWN, YOU ARRIVE THERE NAKED. WITHOUT ANY OPPORTUNITIES >> LORDES: I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT. FOR MY FAMILY'S CASE, WE WERE REALLY GRATEFUL THAT ONCE WE LANDED TO MEXICO WE WERE -- THIS ONE TEAM WHO WAS RECOMMENDED BY SOMEONE FROM HERE -- WHEN WE WERE STILL HERE WE MET AN INCREDIBLE MAN IN DETROIT WHO HELPED US [ INAUDIBLE ] IN MEXICO. SO ONCE WE LANDED AND WE WERE STILL IN THE AIRPORT WE WERE TAKING TO THIS ONE ROOM. AND MY MOM WAS INTERVIEWED. AND AFTER THAT THEY TOOK US TO MY MOM AND MY DAD'S RANCH. SO LIKE WHERE THEY'RE ORIGINALLY FROM. AND THAT'S WHEN WE SETTLED IN AT MY GRANDMA'S HOUSE AND ALL THAT. AND THEN THAT WEEK THEY BASICALLY TOOK US IN AND, LIKE, SHOWED US MEXICO. THEY SHOWED US -- OR THEY TOOK US TO THIS CITY NAMED TOLOCA IN MEXICO WHERE MY MOM, MY YOUNGER BROTHER AND MY DAD LIVE RIGHT NOW. AND THERE WE -- THEY GAVE US AN AMAZING HOUSE. A LITTLE HOUSE TO LIVE IN. AND THEY GAVE ME, MY BROTHER AND MY OLDER SISTER AN OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY THERE. BUT MY SISTER -- MY OLDER IS SISTER PAMELA, SHE IS A JUNIOR AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, SO SHE HAS A SCHOLARSHIP HERE. SO SHE COULDN'T, YOU KNOW, PASS ON THE OPPORTUNITY. SO THAT'S WHY SHE DECIDED TO COME BACK. BUT FOR ME AND MY YOUNGER BROTHER, WE HAD TO STAY WITH MY PARENTS. AND WE WENT TO SCHOOL THERE. WE WENT TO SCHOOL IN TOLUCA. AND THAT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THIS ONE REALLY BIG OPPORTUNITY WE HAD. SO IT'S VERY DIFFERENT FOR EACH PERSON. BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO GOT -- WHO GET DEPORTED. THEY, LIKE, EMILIO SAYS, THEY JUST GO BACK TO THEIR RANCH AND JUST START FROM SQUARE ONE. AND, FOR US, IT DIDN'T REALLY GO LIKE THAT. SO I'M REALLY -- WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAD, LIKE, THE OPPORTUNITY LIKE THAT. BUT IT'S A VERY HARD LIFE TO LIVE THERE. AND YEAH >> TO ADD ON. I KNOW THAT HER MOTHER WISHES THAT SHE WAS WITH ALL OF HER CHILDREN. THAT THEY -- BRIAN IS STILL IN MEXICO AND THEN EVENTUALLY MAYBE WANTS TO COME BACK TO THE U.S. TO GO TO SCHOOL LIKE HIS OTHER SIBLINGS. AND THAT THEY'RE FACING A LOT OF THINGS THAT LUIS SAID AND HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES. I KNOW THAT SHE WISHES SHE COULD BE HERE TODAY IN THIS ROOM >> I THINK THIS ALSO EMPHASIZES HOW CRITICAL IT IS TO THINK BEYOND THE INDIVIDUAL DEPORTED. OFTEN THAT PERSON IS FACED WITH LITTLE CHOICE. THAT PERSON IS RETURNING. I THINK BUT AS YOU SAID SOMETIMES THE HARDEST CHOICES ARE MADE BY THE FAMILY WHO STAYS BEHIND. WILL THE FAMILY RETURN? WILL THE FAMILY STAY? AND OFTEN FOR MIXED STATUS FAMILIES, SOMETIMES CHILDREN ARE DIFFERENT IMMIGRATION STATUSES, OLDER, YOUNGER, HAVE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. AS WE CAN SEE, SOME STAY AND SOME GO. SO WE SEE ONE SINGLE DEPORTATION HAS THE POWER TO RESHAPE THE FAMILIES. THIS ALSO GIVES US SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY UNIT TO SUPPORT THESE FOLKS. AGAIN, THINKING ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO HELPED WITH REINTEGRATION INTO MEXICAN SOCIETY AFTER DEPORTATION OR THE MANY TEACHERS WHO SUPPORTED THE CHILDREN BOTH AS THEY STAY AND AS THEY GO BACK AND FORTH SUPPORT THEM WITH MONEY AND FOOD AND WITH EDUCATION. YOU KNOW, AND I THINK IT'S GOOD. I INVITE YOU TO THINK OF YOUR ROLES WHETHER AS PROFESSORS OR STUDENTS OR ADVOCATES AND THINK ABOUT OF YOUR ADVOCACY NOT JUST IN STOPPING DEPORTATION BUT IN SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES AS THEY EVOLVE AND GROW AFTERWARDS. >> THE REASON THAT LORDES'S FAMILY GOT SO MUCH ATTENTION WAS BECAUSE OF HER NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS AND ALL OF THE ADVOCATES ALONG WITH THIS FAMILY THAT HELPED THAT. MOST PEOPLE, IT'S HIGHLY UNUSUAL THAT SOMEBODY'S GREETING YOU IN MEXICO, HELPING YOU TO GET A HOME, RIGHT. AND ACTUALLY I'VE HAD CLOSE CONTACT WITH LORDES VERY RECENTLY AND HER FAMILY IS SERIOUSLY STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY. IT MAKES ME VERY SAD TO THINK THAT SO MANY OF US ARE LEARNING FROM HER BRAVERY, HER COURAGE, RIGHT, TO COME OUT AND BE AND SHOW WHAT'S HAPPENED TO HER AND HER FAMILY WHILE THEY ARE REALLY STRUGGLING. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT THIS IS NOT A FUNDRAISING EVENT. BUT IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO SUPPORTING LORDES'S FAMILY BACK IN MEXICO, YOU CAN SEE ME AFTERWARDS, OKAY. I'LL BE WANDERING AROUND. ALSO MY EMAIL IS LSANDERS @U-M ICH.EDU. L SANDERS AND IN BERNIE AND COLONEL AND CANDY. AND MY PHONE NUMBER IS IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY CONTRIBUTE TO HELP LORDES'S FAMILY. THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION UP. THIS IS, OF HOW DO WE BEGIN TO CHANGE THE CONVERSATIONS ON IMMIGRATION POLICY TO BETTER REPRESENT THE REAL EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE? >> I THINK PART OF WHAT I DO IS TRYING TO DO THAT A LITTLE BIT AND HOPING THAT WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT THESE PHOTOS, HOPEFULLY THEY COULD PERSONALLY UNDERSTAND WITH COMPASSION AND EMPATHY, UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH ON A WAY DEEPER LEVEL THAN THEY WOULD IN OTHERWISE JUST A HEADLINER OR STORY AND HOPEFULLY EVEN DEEP EVERY THAN A CAMPAIGN. I THINK WHAT WORKS TOGETHER IS THIS TYPE OF THING IS THE COLLABORATION OF ALL THESE THINGS COMING TOGETHER TO REALLY TRY TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE WITH LORDES WHO WANTS TO FIGHT AND HAVE HER STORY BE TOLD, THE COMMUNITY THAT WANTS TO HELP HER AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THAT. >> Ann Lin: RACHEL, CAN YOU SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE KIND OF RESPONSE YOU HAVE GOTTEN AS THIS WORK HAS BEEN EXHIBITED IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CITIES. WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE HAS IT GOTTEN, POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE, WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD? >> Rachel Woolf: SO THIS CAME TOGETHER IN A WAY WHERE I GOT A GRANT TO GO TO MEXICO TO WORK ON THE STORY. AND SO THROUGH THAT THIS KIND OF THIS EXHIBIT CAME TOGETHER AS WELL BECAUSE IT WAS EXHIBITED IN CHICAGO AND THEN ALSO IN STONYBROOK, NEW YORK. SO LORDES'S STORY HAS BEEN REACHING MANY, MANY PEOPLE. AND I THINK HER STRENGTH SHOWS THROUGH, I HOPE, AND SHOWS THAT SHE IS HURTING IN A LOT OF WAYS AS WELL, AND THAT HER KIDS ARE HER LIFE, AND SHE WISHES SHE COULD BE WITH THEM. I THINK THAT'S THE MESSAGE SHE HOPES TO GET OUT. AND I THINK A THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL HOPEFULLY GAIN FROM THIS TOO AND THAT HER FIGHTING ONGOINGS ON WELL. I THINK PEOPLE I HOPE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT FROM THE PHOTOS AND FROM THE EXHIBIT AND THE PANEL AND EVERYTHING. >> Emilio Gutierrez Soto: I BELIEVE IT IS VERY EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO SPREAD THE STORIES AND TO INSIST WITH THE POPULAR REPRESENTATIVES POLITICIANS KNOW AND UNDERSTAND ALL THESE STORIES, BUT THEY ARE ONLY LOOKING TO BE RE-ELECTED ONCE AGAIN AND ONCE AGAIN AND ONCE AGAIN. SO THEY ARE NOT LOOKING TO DISTRIBUTE OR TO SPREAD THE STORIES. SO WE HAVE TO DO IT. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND IT IS A NECESSITY TO PUT PRESSURE IN TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR SOCIETIES. WE NEED TO BRING THEM DOWN FROM THE PEDESTAL THEY'RE STANDING SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE A BATH ON TO THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE KNOW. THEY NEED TO KNOW, FIRST-HAND, WHAT IS HAPPENING. THANK YOU >> I THINK ONE THING WE CAN ALSO ADD IS IT'S IMPORTANT TO LET FOLKS CLOSEST TO THE EXPERIENCES HAVE THE MICROPHONE MORE SO THAN THOSE WHO MAY BE A LITTLE FARTHER. I THINK EMILIO AND THANK YOU YVONNE ALSO, HAVE BEEN GOOD EXAMPLES OF DOING THAT >> SEEING AS YOU ALL COME IN TO THIS WORK FROM VARYING FRONTS AND ARE BEING TAXED IN VARYING WAYS, HOW DO YOU ALL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD? WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO FIND THE STRENGTH TO CONTINUE PERSEVERING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THINGS MADE SEEM INSURMOUNTABLE? >> Emilio Gutierrez Soto: WE PULL OUR STRENGTH FROM WHEREVER WE CAN. WE DO NOT HAVE OR AT LEAST MYSELF IN MY PERSONAL CASE, WE DON'T HAVE A REVERSE. WE CANNOT GO BACK. I CANNOT GO BACK TO MEXICO. ON DECEMBER 7TH OF THE YEAR BEFORE LAST YEAR, WE WERE ONE MINUTE AWAY FROM BEING DEPORTED. I.C.E. DID NOT WAIT FOR A RESOLUTION FROM THE APPEAL COURT. AND IT WAS TO THE LAST MINUTE. I ALMOST HAD ONE FOOT IN MEXICO WHEN MY DEPORTATION WAS STOPPED. ONCE AGAIN, I SAY, THEY APPLY THE LAWS TO THEIR CONVENIENCE. WE CANNOT GO BACK, HOWEVER, SOME OF US, LIKE THIS YOUNG LADY IN THE PLANNING GROUP WITH ME, WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS -- REPORTERS GROUPS, NEWSPAPER REPORTER GROUPS. THE GREAT SUPPORT THAT I CURRENTLY RECEIVE IS FROM KNIGHTS. HOWEVER, KEEP IN MIND, MOST OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DEPORTABLE, THEY ARE DEFENSELESS. AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE SUPPORT CHAINS FOR IMMIGRANTS. WHETHER IT IS A POSITIVE RESULT OR A NEGATIVE RESULT FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL IMMIGRATION CASES, WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OR HELP OTHER CASES. >> I CAN ADD TO WHAT KEEPS ME AND I THINK MANY OF US GOING WHEN THINGS CAN BE FRUSTRATING OR OTHERWISE SEEM DARK. I REMEMBER MANY OF US WERE THERE FOR LORDES'S DEPORTATION. SO WE WENT TO THE AIRPORT. WE HAD THE WICKER BANNER BEHIND HER. AND, YOU KNOW, WE WATCHED AS SHE WALKED THROUGH THE META DETECTOR TO LEAVE TO BE DEPORTED. YOU KNOW, WE SAW HER HUG THE PEOPLE FROM THE FIRST FIVE, TEN YEARS OF HER LIFE. THEN SHE HUGGED THE FOLKS FROM THE NEXT TEN YEARS OF HER LIFE. THEN SHE HUGGED -- I REMEMBER SEEING HER HUG THE TEACHERS WHO WERE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF HER CHILDREN IN THEIR MOTHER'S ABSENCE. AND I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, AS SHE WAS WALKING THROUGH ALL OF US WERE UNDERSTANDABLY SHAKING AND TEARING UP. AND THEN YOUR MOM TURNED AROUND, LORDES TURNED AROUND AND SHE LOOKED AT US AND SAID [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]. KNOW SHE SAID THAT TO US. YOU KNOW, I JUST -- IT NOKNOCKED THE WIND OUT OF ME TO SEE SOMEONE WHOS WHO BEING DEPORTED TO HAVE THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO TELL US THAT WE NEEDED TO KEEP FIGHTING, RIGHT. SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT, LIKE, THAT THE MOVEMENT IS FRUSTRATED OR THAT POLICIES AREN'T GOING TO CHANGE, I THINK ABOUT THAT. THAT WE DON'T HAVE PERMISSION TO STOP. BECAUSE PEOPLE BETTER THAN US HAVE ALREADY BEEN REMOVED. SO I THANK YOU FOR -- I THANK YOUR MOM FOR SHARING THAT MOMENT WITH US. AND I THINK IT'S ONE THAT MANY OF US WILL NEVER FORGET. >> IN WICKER WE HAVE A POLICY WHICH IS CELEBRATE YOUR SMALL VICTORIES. WHEN WE GET -- THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO STOP THEIR DEPORTATIONS OR PROLONG THEIR DEPORTATIONS. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET PEOPLE SOME IMMEDIATE NEEDS THAT THEY MAY HAVE NEED FOR. LIKE AN APARTMENT OR, YOU KNOW, JUST A WHOLE PLETHORA OF WAYS IN WHICH WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE. AND WE CELEBRATE THOSE SMALL VICTORIES. WE ALSO ARE REALLY OUR ORGANIZATION IS ROOTED IN COLLABORATION IN A CONSENSUS TYPE OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MODEL FOR RUNNING OURSELVES. AND WE ELEVATE THE VOICES OF THE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SO WE ARE -- WE'RE ROOTED IN LOVE. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT KEEPS US GOING >> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS THAT EXIST ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEPORTED? >> THAT THEY'RE CRIMINALS. THEY'RE NOT CRIMINALS BY IN LARGE. IN FACT, THERE'S VERY FEW, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO HAVE ANYTHING MORE THAN MISDEMEANORS THAT ARE NECESSARILY DEPORTED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DEPORTED HAVE REENTERED. SO THEY'VE BEEN DEPORTED BEFORE AND THEY COME BACK BECAUSE THEIR FAMILY IS HERE, THEY'RE ENGAGED, YOU KNOW, IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, THEIR WORK IS HERE. AND THEY COME BACK AND THEN THEY'RE -- IF THEY'RE CAUGHT THEY'RE SLAPPED WITH A FELONY AND THEY ARE THEN IN A HIGHER CRIMINAL CATEGORY. SO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHO YOU ARE BELIEVING -- WHO YOU BELIEVE ARE CRIMINALS, OKAY. IT IS A ADMINISTRATIVE VIOLATION TO COME ACROSS THE BORDER. IT'S ON PAR WITH LIKE A TYPE 2 MISDEMEANOR. IT'S NOT A CRIMINAL -- IT'S NOT A VIOLENT OR SERIOUS CRIMINAL OFFENSE. SO MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING CALLED CRIMINAL AND ARE BEING, YOU KNOW, THE DATA IS SHOWING THEY'RE CRIMINALS, ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITTED NONVIOLENT STATUS -- YOU KNOW TYPES OF CIVIL OFFENSES >> SO ONE OF THE MAIN QUESTIONS THAT IS OFTEN ASKED IS: HOW CAN WE SUPPORT AND HOW CAN WE GET INVOLVED? SEEING THAT YOU ALL ARE INVOLVED IN THIS WORK THROUGH JOURNALISM, RESEARCH, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND THROUGH PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, HOW CAN PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN CAPACITIES CONTRIBUTE TO EQUITABLE IMMIGRATION REFORM AND IN SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE TO THIS CIRCUMSTANCE? >> I FEEL LIKE I'VE TALKED A LOT. GET INVOLVED IN WICKER. THERE'S ALL SORTS OF LEVELS ON WHICH YOU CAN GET INVOLVED. IF YOU CAN'T REALLY PUT A LOT OF TIME, YOU CAN MAKE A DONATION. WE HAVE A FACEBOOK, RIGHT, WICKER FACEBOOK. WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS ON ALL LEVELS. IF YOU DON'T SPEAK SPANISH YOU CAN STILL DRIVE PEOPLE TO A COURT CASE OR TO AN IMMIGRATION MEETING. IF YOU DO SPEAK SPANISH, YOU CAN BE AN ADVOCATE. YOU MAY WANT TO GET INVOLVED BY CARRYING OUR PHONE AND BEING A FIRST RESPONDER. WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF SUPPORT BEHIND YOU. BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING AT FIRST. YOU MIGHT THINK, WOW, I WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. WELL THAT'S WHAT THE TRAINING IS ABOUT AND THAT'S WHAT THE SUPPORT, THAT LEVELS OF SUPPORT THAT WE'VE PUT IN TO PLACE ARE ABOUT. SO WE'D LOVE TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED. AND THERE'S ALWAYS OPPORTUNITY WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION. SO YOU CAN GO TO OUR FACEBOOK. ANYTHING ELSE? ANY OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT? >> I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THERE'S A REALLY IMPORTANT POLICY CONVERSATION THAT WE WANT TO HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT IMMIGRATION POLICY. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE CONTROVERSY IMMIGRATION POLICY SHOULDN'T BE EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO COME TO THE U.S. SHOULD COME TO THE U.S. IT ALSO SHOULDN'T BE, NOBODY WHO WANTS TO COME TO THE U.S. SHOULD COME BECAUSE WE HAVE TO KEEP EVERYTHING HERE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ALREADY. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS IN BETWEEN. AND INSTEAD I THINK WE OFTEN SORT OF DEFAULT TO THE ONE THAT IS THE SEXIEST OR THE ONE THAT IS THE MOST DISCOURAGING OR THE ONE THAT IS THE MOST POLARIZING. LET'S THINK ABOUT -- EDUCATE YOURSELVES ABOUT THE VARIETY OF WAYS IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES HAS ORGANIZED IMMIGRATION, OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE ORGANIZED IMMIGRATION, AND REALLY THINK ABOUT WAYS WHERE WE CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF THE UNITED STATES, WHICH INCLUDE THE ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT IMMIGRANTS CAN BRING, WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING AN IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE SOME PEOPLE TO BREAK THE LAW BECAUSE THERE'S NO OTHER WAY FOR THEM TO COME. >> Ann Lin: WE'VE GOT ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LEFT. AND SO MAYBE WE CAN TAKE ONE MORE QUESTION? >> SO, LASTLY, FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, HOW SHOULD WE REFORM IMMIGRATION POLICY? [ LAUGHTER ] >> IT'S TOUGH TO END ON THAT ONE. >> Emilio Gutierrez Soto: PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO TRANSFORM THE POLICIES ARE THE POLITICIANS. BUT THEY HAVE TO RECEIVE PRESSURE AND SUPPORT FROM THE SOCIETY. AND EVEN SOME PEOPLE LIKE THE IDEA AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA, WE NEED TO FIND A PEACEFUL MANNER OR PEACE PEA PEACEFUL WAY FOR POLITICIANS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SOCIETY NEEDS AND WHAT SOCIETY WANTS SO THEY CAN START WORKING ON THE REAL THINGS >> I THINK NOT CREATING DIVISIONS FOR WORTHY AND UNWORTHY IMMIGRANTS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WHAT WE SEE RIGHT NOW IS OUR PRESIDENT WILLING TO TRADE THE WALL FOR DACA. AND WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE. WE'VE SEEN OUR COMMUNITY SPLIT. AND FOLKS, ESPECIALLY FOLKS WITH DACA, DON'T WANT TO DO THIS. OFTEN THESE ARE JUST TWO FABRICATED CATEGORIES THAT WE MAKE TO PUSH A PARTICULAR POLITICAL PLATFORM WHEN REALITY IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS DO WE WANT TO ALLOW OUR 25 TO IMMIGRANTS TO BE DEPORTED OR TO FUNNEL MORE PEOPLE INTO THE DESERT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO DIE RIGHT? THESE ARE NOT THE CHOICES WE SHOULD BE MAKING WHEN IT COMES TO TO PLANNING IMMIGRATION POLICY. SO I THINK IT'S GOOD BOTH FOR POLITICIANS AND FOR US TO BE AWARE OF THESE CATEGORIES. THEY DON'T NATURALLY EXIST AND WE NEED TO FIGHT THEM AND SEE OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. >> I'D SAY WATCH OUT FOR WHAT TRUMP'S INTENTIONS REALLY ARE. WHICH IS TO CHANGE CHAIN -- WHAT HE IS CALLING CHAIN MIGRATION. WHICH IS BASICALLY FAMILY MIGRATION OR FAMILY IMMIGRATION. TO, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING PEOPLE WHO ARE HIGHLY EDUCATED, QUOTE, BEST AND BRIGHTEST, RIGHT, TO COME IN TO THE COUNTRY. SO HE'S REALLY LOOKING TO SHIFT A VERY LONG TIME VALUE THAT WE'VE HAD IN OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM OF ALLOWING FAMILIES TO BRING OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS OVER EVEN IF THEY'RE UNSKILLED OR HAVE LESS SKILL THAN PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSEDLY, YOU KNOW, HIGHLY EDUCATED. SO WATCH THAT BECAUSE HE REALLY WANTS TO CHANGE OUR LEGAL IMMIGRATION SYSTEM. AND WE'VE HAD A WHOLE LOT -- WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF GOOD IDEAS ABOUT WHAT SOME COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM WILL LOOK LIKE. IT LOOKS LIKE HELPING THE DAWGA KIDS TO BE ABLE -- DACA KIDS TO BE ABLE TO STAY, AND THEIR FAMILY. IT WOULD CREATE A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME. IT ALLOWS PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME AND WORK HERE TO WORK HERE. SO THERE'S -- WE DON'T NEED A WALL, THAT'S FOR SURE. AND SO JUST WATCH FOR THOSE KEY ELEMENTS OF A GOOD IMMIGRATION RE REFORM. >> Ann Lin: IS THERE ANYTHING THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SAY JUST TO CLOSE OFF? >> Emilio Gutierrez Soto: YES. I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH MR. LOPEZ. AND SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. TO MANY PEOPLE, GOING BACK TO MEXICO REPRESENTS OR MEANS AN IMMEDIATE DEATH. AND I'M SPEAKING ABOUT MYSELF. I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE MILITARY. CURRENTLY, THE ARMY IS LOCATED IN THE EMBASSIES, IN THE CONSULATES, IN ALL IMMIGRATION SERVICES. IN ALL OF THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN MEXICO, THE MILITARIES ARE THERE. WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS GOING TO BE DEPORTED, I KNEW THAT THE CONSULATE WAS GOING TO DELIVER ME TO THE IMMIGRATION SERVICES AND I WAS IN SHOCK. I HAVE A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. THAT OBVIOUSLY REPRESENTED THAT WE WERE GOING TO DISAPPEAR. UNFORTUNATELY, THE NEW GOVERNMENT IN MEXICO STILL USES THE MILITARY FOR SECURITY PURPOSES. THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED IN MEXICO. THE PROBLEM IS EVEN WORSE. WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THOSE CASES WHERE LIVES ARE IN DANGER. IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU. >> Ann Lin: LET ME JUST THANK THIS AMAZING PANEL AND THANK YOU TOO FOR ASKING SUCH GREAT, INTERESTING QUESTIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] MEMBERS OF THE PANEL WILL PROBABLY BE AROUND IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THEM AFTER TODAY'S CONVERSATION. AND I ALSO REMIND TO YOU TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE EXHIBIT WE HAVE IN THE HALL. THANK YOU.