The Impact of 9/11 on Immigration Policy
The Chicago Lawyer Chapter marked September 11th by focusing its attention on the impact that the tragic events of that day have had on immigration policy. The event was co-sponsored by the John Marshall Law School chapter and The Petra Law Group. Mary Meg McCarthy, the director of the National Immigrant Justice Center, provided the audience with chilling evidence regarding the civil rights abuses that plagued immigrant communities in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Her remarks also highlighted the Administration's efforts to curtail the scope of judicial review for immigrant detainees, its extensive use of racial profiling, and the general ineffectiveness of these and similar methods in terms of increasing security and making progress in the so-called "War on Terror." The program concluded with a panel discussion featuring contributions from two other members of NIJC's staff: Tara Magner, director of policy, and David Austin, supervising attorney for NIJC's Asylum Project. A bountiful buffet of middle-eastern delicacies was provided courtesy of The Petra Law Group and Cedar's Mediterranean restaurant.
