SEPTEMBER 1st 

Homecoming Room, 345 IMU

A session moderated by Kate Melloy Goettel (Federal Litigation Clinic Director, University of Iowa College of Law), including Julie Rich (Senior Attorney, National Immigrant Justice Center), Robyn Barnard (Vice President, Immigrant & Refugee Rights at Human Rights First), Laurie Ball Cooper (Vice President for US Legal Programs, International Refugee Assistance Project) featuring:  

• A national overview of the current immigration law landscape impacting people experiencing forced migration, specifically recent developments from BIA/EOIR, and TPS/ Parole/SIV/Refugee Processing and Resettlement policy changes  

• Updates on current and emerging legal challenges to policies  

• Key organizing, advocacy, and litigation strategies being used nationwide to respond to policy changes and enforcement actions   

• Practical insights for attorneys and advocates supporting immigrant communities in a rapidly changing legal environment  

Divine Nine Room, 335 IMU

Facilitated by Refugee Advocacy Lab staff Megan Smith (Communications Manager), Olivia Whiteley (State Advocacy Strategy Advisor), Sarah Turlow (Executive Director of the (IRC) International Rescue Committee in Iowa and Iowa State Lead for Refugee Advocacy lab), and Erica Johnson (Founding Executive Director, Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice)

States and localities play a crucial role in shaping how their communities are protecting, solidifying, and expanding their ability to welcome immigrants and refugees. Currently, policymakers at all levels are actively debating and deciding what the future looks like for Iowans, both longtime community members and newcomers alike. As lawyers, community leaders, and allies, we have an opportunity to advocate for policy decisions that build a strong, prosperous future where all who call Iowa home can thrive.

This workshop, hosted by the Refugee Advocacy Lab and the International Rescue Committee of Iowa, will explore tested communications and advocacy strategies that can effectively build support for inclusive policies and mobilize opposition against harmful legislation, including on-the-ground examples from Iowa and other similar state legislative contexts.

Homecoming Room, 345 IMU

A session moderated by Suzie Pritchett, (Director of Clinical and Experiential Education; Professor of Law, Drake University Law School), including Matthew Joseph (Senior Policy Counsel, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, University of California College of Law - San Francisco), and Robyn Barnard (Vice President, Immigrant & Refugee Rights, Human Rights First). This panel examines recent and ongoing landmark litigation at the U.S.–Mexico border, contrasts prevailing public narratives of a "solved border" with on-the-ground humanitarian realities and highlights the implications for practitioners who engage in humanitarian immigration representation. The panel will explore a possible future with a renewed humanitarian focus on the border as a site of refuge for those seeking protection from harm.

Divine Nine Room, 335 IMU

Civic engagement and political participation for immigrant and refugee communities extend far beyond electoral politics. In a state like Iowa, true community power requires strategic, nonpartisan advocacy and long-term coalition building.

Moderated by Fatima Saidi (Director, We Are All America National Partnership), Mazahir Salih (Executive Director, Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County), Illia Yamchuk (Interpreter, Iowa Migrant Movement Justice), Maria Gonzalez (Community Organizer, Iowa Migrant Movement Justice), and Saadat Ahmadi (DOJ Accredited Representative, Catholic Charities-Cedar Rapids), this interactive roundtable brings together grassroots leaders, service providers, and community organizers. Together, we will tackle the realities of organizing in Iowa, exploring how to build sustainable infrastructure that shifts us out of reactive crisis mode and into lasting, resilient power. Participants will explore:

• Building Nonpartisan Strategic Advocacy: How to engage candidates and officials across the political spectrum, directly asking:

  • "I live in Iowa. What is your vision for the future of our state, and how are immigrant and refugee communities included in that vision?"

• Cross-Sector Coalitions for Survival: Why immigrant rights organizations must build intentional alliances with labor unions, public educators, faith communities, and reproductive justice groups, creating a network of allies who will show up and defend our communities when it is unsafe or impossible for us to stand up alone.

  • Transitioning to Long-Term Resilience: Strategies for moving beyond continuous rapid response into proactive, decades-long planning that survives local and national political shifts.

  • Developing Local Leadership: Practical pathways to support emerging refugee and immigrant leaders running for office, serving on boards, and building grassroots organization capacity.

Homecoming Room, 345 IMU

A generative session moderated by Yer Vang (Legal Director, Catholic Charities-Cedar Rapids), Ann Naffier (Legal Director, Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice), and Jawed Qurishi, (DOJ Accredited Representative, Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice) including Jillian Brown, (Staff Attorney, The Advocates for Human Rights), featuring presentations on current USCIS policies including: 

• Asylum Pause 

• Refugee Resettlement Pause 

• Refugee Adjustment Pause 

• 75-country DOS Public Charge related Pause 

• Travel Ban 

• Travel Ban Benefits Pause 

• Updates to Temporary Protected Status 

• New Public Charge rules

Divine Nine Room, 335 IMU

Join Suzie Pritchett, (Director of Drake University College of Law's Refugee Clinic) Mara Weaver Boshart, (Legal Supervisor and DOJ Accredited Representative, National Immigrant Justice Center), and John Danos (Attorney, Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice) for an interactive workshop that explores the basics of the immigration law system, including:  

• Humanitarian parole pathways  

• TPS and asylum updates  

• Family reunification  

• Adjustment of status options  

The workshop will give participants an opportunity to walk through the immigration system under hypothetical scenarios with the goal of leaving with a better understanding of the immigration system. 

Herky Room 343, IMU

A session with Laurie Ball Cooper and Stephen Poellot of International Refugee Assistance Program, providing lessons learned from rapid response with Minnesotan refugees as well as work in other communities throughout the US, forum participants will share lessons learned so far in 2026, what we can anticipate next in terms of attacks on refugees already resettled in the United States, and answer questions as audience members think about preparing and mobilizing their own communities alongside their refugee neighbors. 

Divine Nine Room, 335, IMU

Robyn Barnard (Vice President, Immigrant & Refugee Rights at Human Rights First), will share the current collaborative efforts of Human Rights First, NILC** and FIRM** to envision next steps for local and national legal advocacy efforts

**The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) are prominent U.S. organizations that partner closely in advocacy, legal strategy, and grassroots mobilization to defend and advance immigrant rights.

Homecoming Room, 345 IMU

In this session, Kate Melloy Goettel (Federal Litigation Clinic Director, University of Iowa College of Law) will provide a practical introduction to litigating immigration matters in federal court, including challenges to unlawful denials, delays, and immigration detention. This breakout will also address the mechanics of filing, federal court admissions, and client counseling considerations. Designed for lawyers and advocates new to federal practice.

International Ballroom, IMU

A session with Marissa Hill Dongre (Immigration Policy Supervisor, Immigration Legal and Benefits Policy Unit, Resettlement Programs Office, Minnesota Department of Human Services) and Hanne Sandison, (Immigration Legal Services Director, The Advocates for Human Rights) on the intersection of immigration and law, resettlement and social services and the current landscape of benefit restrictions.