The William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law, in partnership with the Immigration Clinic, recently welcomed Silky Shah, executive director of Detention Watch Network and author of the newly published book Unbuild Walls: Why Immigrant Justice Needs Abolition, and Professor Andrea Meza ’15, a Texas Law faculty member and director of Advocacy Campaigns and Immigration and Food Integrity Campaigns at the Government Accountability Project. The discussion, moderated by Clinical Professor Elissa Steglich, explored the role of attorneys in movements.
During the event, Shah and Meza shared insights into the challenges to the immigrant rights movement, particularly during the pandemic and under the two most recent presidential administrations. They discussed how these shifts impacted advocacy efforts related to immigrant rights and mass incarceration, underscoring the resilience and adaptability needed in their work.
The speakers also reflected on their personal career journeys and their unique roles within the immigrant justice movement. They highlighted the importance of understanding one’s positionality within the field and emphasized the significance of coalition-building, noting that partnerships between organizers and attorneys are crucial for creating lasting change.
Throughout the discussion, Professor Steglich guided questions around the complexities of immigrant rights and the role of collaboration in achieving systemic reform. Reflecting on the event’s impact, Steglich remarked, “It was valuable for law students and lawyers to consider how our skills can work alongside changemakers from other disciplines to support social justice movements.”