Challenging Trump on Immigration
Emily Robinson and Alejandro Barajas, both of the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic, met with Truthdig on Thursday to discuss plans to fight the president's new policies.
From left: Truthdig communications coordinator Sarah Wesley; Alejandro Barajas and Emily Robinson of the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic; and Truthdig Managing Editor Eric Ortiz.
The Trump administration forged ahead with plans to crack down on undocumented immigrants Tuesday when the Department of Homeland Security released two memorandums on the implementation and enforcement of a strict immigration policy.
The documents sent shock waves through civil rights organizations, and legal advocacy groups began to assemble plans for fighting the harsh new policies. One such legal organization is the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic (LIJC) at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. LIJC is the only community-based immigration clinic housed in a law school in the United States. It partners with community organizations such as Homeboy Industries and Dolores Mission Church in Los Angeles to reach those most in need of immigration help.
Emily Robinson, LIJC co-director, joined the Truthdig team Thursday to discuss the legality of Trump’s new policies. Alejandro Barajas, a staff attorney for the LIJC, also took part in the discussion. Watch the discussion in the video above.
Los Angeles already has experienced a wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, and the undocumented community is even more fearful in the wake of the recent memorandums. How will the LIJC help these communities going forward?
Across the state, numerous local governments and religious institutions have taken on “sanctuary” status, but the legality of such a move is being questioned now. Dolores Mission Church has long offered assistance to undocumented immigrants, but will it be able to continue to do so?
Watch past editions of “Live at Truthdig” here.
—Posted by Emma Niles
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