Interested in immigration law? Civil liberties? Social justice? Come to
the Detention Center Court Watch Group interest meeting! Wednesday at
6pm in Wyatt 101. Puget Sound's Detention Center Court Watch Group will
be working with the Immigrant Detainee Justice Project, Seattle
University's School of Law, and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
(NWIRP), to sit in on court proceedings at the Detention Center. Our
main goal is to take notes on court proceedings that will help NWIRP to
better serve immigrant detainees. About 90% of immigrants facing
deportation represent themselves in court, and because they are not
citizens they are not entitled to a lawyer. NWIRP works with people
facing deportation and gives them guidance as they navigate the court
system. In addition to taking notes, we are hoping to learn about
immigration law first-hand as well as being a presence of support for
those facing deportation. Those interested will receive training on
campus to prepare them for participation in the program. We are planning
to begin regular visits to the detention center in January, probably
sending a few members at a time on a regular basis. Patricia Sully,
Assistant Director of Seattle University's Access to Justice Institute
will be speaking at the interest meeting to give us more detail on the
program. Hope to see you there!
--Elise Zeidman and Jake Novack
Questions? Contact us:
Elise Zeidman ezeidman@pugetsound.edu
Jake Novack
jnovack@pugetsound.edu
