Thursday, January 31, 2008
12:50–1:50 p.m.

New York Law School
Room A700

On Thursday, January 31, 2008, the Justice Action Center presented the first Justice Speaks Lunch of the semester, The Effect of “Sanctuary Cities” on Immigration Policy.

Our speaker for the event was Udi Ofer, Advocacy Director for the New York Civil Liberties Union. Associate Dean Lenni Benson was our faculty commentator.

Udi Ofer is advocacy director and legislative counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union. He is responsible for spearheading the NYCLU's public advocacy initiatives. He monitors and analyzes local and federal legislation impacting civil rights and liberties, and drafts legislative testimony, educational materials and action alerts. He speaks and debates frequently on a range of civil liberties matters, including the USA PATRIOT Act, immigrants' rights, right to privacy, racial profiling, and freedom of expression and association. Ofer led the successful passage of the Right to Assemble and Bill of Rights resolutions through the New York City Council. He drafted legislation recently introduced in the City Council to ensure that individuals arrested by the police are arraigned within 24 hours of arrest. His current work includes responding to anti-immigrant ordinances being introduced in localities throughout New York State. Prior to joining the NYCLU, Ofer was a Skadden Fellow at My Sisters' Place, a domestic violence organization in Westchester County. While there he initiated the organization's immigration practice, and created a legal clinic to represent battered women on their immigration and public benefits matters. Ofer's past public interest experience includes working at the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, a human rights organization in Jerusalem, and Brooklyn Legal Services. Ofer is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law, where he was a Stein Scholar in Public Interest Law and Ethics, and a Crowley Advocate in International Human Rights. He earned his B.A. from the University of Buffalo.

Matilde L. Roman, a graduate of New York Law School and General Counsel to the New York City Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, was also originally scheduled to join us. Due to last-minute conflicts, Ms. Roman was unable to atend the lunch.