On Tuesday, October 27th, Safe Passage Project and New York Law School welcomed over 175 participants to two panel discussions focusing on immigrant kids.
The afternoon session featured opening remarks by City Councilmember Rory Lancman, and presentations by Lori Adams, Managing Attorney, Human Rights First; Susan Kingsland, Social Worker, Immigrant Youth Representation Project, Legal Aid Society; Samantha Norris, Social Worker, Safe Passage Project, and Veyom Bahl, Program Officer, Robin Hood Foundation. Professor and Safe Passage Director Lenni Benson moderated this panel, in which discussants addressed the unmet legal and social services needs of immigrant kids as well as young immigrant parents who arrived in New York in the past year.
New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito
Judge Patricia A. Rohan
New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito gave opening remarks at the evening session, entitled “Representing Immigrant Children: One Year Later.” Immigration Judge Patricia A. Rohan eloquently discussed best practices representing young people before the New York Immigration Court. Professor Lenni Benson gave a heartfelt tribute to Judge Rohan’s leadership in the implementation of the juvenile docket in the New York Immigration Court, followed by Adjustment of Status Section Chief Kristian Parker’s remarks on best practices before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Professor Theo Liebmann then provided an overview of the new Family Court Immigration Advisory Council in New York State. Finally, Safe Passage Director of Training Claire R. Thomas and Supervising Attorney Desireé C. Hernández moderated audience questions.
Thank you to all of our panelists for taking the time out of their busy schedules to make this event possible and to participants for their engaging questions. A special thank you to New York Law School’s Impact Center for Public Interest Law, Center for New York City Law, and the AILA New York Chapter for co-sponsoring both events. An extra special thank you to New York Law School staff and students and Safe Passage staff for assisting at the events.
