SEPTEMBER 1st 

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, and Jillian Brown, Staff Attorney, The Advocates for Human Rights 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 

Facilitated by Refugee Council USA staff Megan Smith and Olivia Whiteley. Panels and activities exploring: 

• Best practices in messaging and storytelling to communicate the impact of policy on refugee and immigrant lives 

• Skills training for effective meetings with legislators and discussion of diverse strategies for advocacy at municipal, state and federal levels 

• Strategies for building community power and increasing representation in local, state, and national decision-making 

A session moderated by Allison McCarthy, Director of Drake University School of Law's Refugee Clinic, including Matthew Joseph, Senior Policy Counsel, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, University of California College of Law - San Fransico, and Robyn Barnard, Vice President, Immigrant & Refugee Rights, Human Rights First: 

• An overview of Mullin v. El Otro Lado and the legal issues at stake and emergent substantive developments to asylum law and policy  

• Analysis of the case's implications for access to asylum and protections at the U.S. border  

• Discussion of current challenges facing asylum seekers and advocates  

• Practical considerations for attorneys representing individuals affected by evolving border and asylum policies  

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 of We Are All America alongside Mazahir Salih of the Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County, 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.

A generative session moderated by Yer Vang (Legal Director, Catholic Charities-Cedar Rapids) and Ann Naffier (Legal Director, Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice), including Mara Weaver Boshart, Legal Supervisor and DOJ Accredited Representative, National Immigrant Justice Center, and Hanne Sandison, Immigration Legal Services Director, The Advocates for Human Rights, featuring: 

• Evaluating changing USCIS policies  

• Collective strategy on best practices for legal advocacy supporting clients impacted by new USCIS policies 

Join Professor Suzie Pritchett, Director of Drake University College of Law's Refugee Clinic, 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.