2026 Fall Immigration Forum: Defending Dignity in an Era of Mass Deportation and Immigration Detention

The 2026 Fall Immigration Forum, titled "Defending Dignity in an Era of Mass Deportation and Immigration Detention," is organized by the James H. Binger Center for New Americans at the University of Minnesota Law School. This forum aims to bring together leading scholars, advocates, and practitioners to examine the legal, historical, and human dimensions of mass deportation and immigration detention. The event is scheduled for November 6, 2026, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at Walter F. Mondale Hall, Lockhart Auditorium (Room 25), University of Minnesota Law School, 229 19th Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55455.

The forum's agenda includes sessions such as "Understanding the Historical Moment for Immigration Detention and Mass Deportation," "Private Prison in the Minnesota Prairielands: Legal Access and Accountability at Appleton," "Detained Without Bond: Habeas Corpus and Legal Challenges to Mandatory Immigration Detention," "Oversight, Remedies and Accountability: Addressing harms at the hands of federal immigration enforcement agents," and "Defining Dignity in Deportation." These sessions aim to explore the history of mass deportation, the constitutional limits of mandatory detention, and the most urgent concerns for the Minnesota community. Participants are encouraged to consider innovative legal and advocacy strategies to protect the rights and dignity of people in ICE custody, including approaches to preserving human dignity throughout the deportation process.

The forum is free and open to the public, with 6.0 CLE credits requested. Following the forum, attendees are invited to a community reception in Auerbach Commons. Notable speakers include Michelle Brané, Executive Director of Together & Free; Gillian Brockell, Journalist; Rebecca Cassler, Senior Litigation Attorney at the American Immigration Council; Eder Castillo, Immigration Policy Attorney at Hennepin County Attorney Office; John Choi, County Attorney of Ramsey County; Ben Gleekel, Adjunct Faculty at the University of Minnesota Law School; Katharine Gordon, Senior Attorney at The Advocates for Human Rights; Chisato Kimura, Legal Fellow at MacArthur Justice Center; Sara Lopez of UNIDOS MN; My Khanh Ngo, Senior Staff Attorney at ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project; José Olivares, Immigration Reporter at The Guardian; Eren Sutherland, Director of Disability Rights Center; Katherine Veldhuizen, Detainee Rights Project Lead at Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota; and Xay Yang, Executive Director of Transforming Generations.

This forum is particularly relevant for legal professionals, scholars, advocates, and community members interested in immigration law, human rights, and social justice. It provides an opportunity to engage with experts, gain insights into current challenges in immigration enforcement, and collaborate on strategies to uphold the dignity and rights of individuals affected by deportation and detention policies.