Thursday, Feb. 9

Opening Remarks

8:30-8:35 – Carol Garrison, President, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), introduced by Suzanne Austin, Vice Provost for Faculty and Student Success, UAB 

Immigration Policy

Introduced and moderated by John Moore, Associate Professor, Department of Foreign Languages, UAB

8:35-9:00 – State-Federal Partnerships in Immigration Law Enforcement: Why they are vital to our future. Daniel Stein, President, Federation for American Immigration Reform

9:00-9:25 – Putting Immigration in Context: Five principles for legislative decision-making that can move this country forward. Mary Giovagnoli, Director, Immigration Policy Center

9:25-9:45 – Audience Q&A

9:45-10:00 – Break

Civil and Human Rights Concerns

Introduced and moderated by John Moore, Associate Professor, Department of Foreign Languages, UAB

10:00-10:15 – Alabama’s HB 56 in Constitutional and National Perspective. David Smolin, Harwell G. Davis Professor of Constitutional Law, Cumberland School of Law, Samford University

10:15-10:30 – The Ideological Foundations of HB 56. Heidi Beirich, Director of Research, Southern Poverty Law Center

10:30-10:45 – Audience Q&A

10:45-11:00 – Break

HB 56 Litigation

Introduced and moderated by Vincent Gawronski, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Birmingham Southern College

11:00-11:30 – Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama et al. v. Bentley et al. Mary Bauer, Legal Director, Southern Poverty Law Center

11:30-noon – Audience Q&A

12:05-1:15 – Lunch Break

Social Science Perspectives on Immigration

Introduced and moderated by Fred Shepherd, Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, Samford University

1:15-1:35 – Globalization and Latinization in the Recent American South. Raymond Mohl, Distinguished Professor, Department of History, UAB

1:35-1:50 – Religious Responses to Unauthorized Immigration. Marie T. Friedmann Marquardt, Scholar-in-Residence, Candler School of Theology, Emory University

1:50-2:05 – Immigrants in the Americas: Diversity, Work, and Entrepreneurship. David Griffith, Professor, Department of Anthropology, East Carolina University

2:05-2:20 – Audience Q&A

2:20-2:35 – Break

Economic Dimensions of Immigration

Introduced and moderated by Jeremy Thornton, Professor, Department of Economics, Samford University

2:35-3:00 – U.S. Immigration: Economic Effects and Policy Implications. Pia Orrenius, Assistant Vice President and Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

3:00-3:25 – The Labor Market Impact of Undocumented Workers. Julie Hotchkiss, Research Economist and Policy Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

3:25-3:45 – Audience Q&A

3:45-4:00 – Break

The Economic and Demographic Impact of HB 56

Introduced and moderated by Jeremy Thornton, Professor, Department of Economics, Samford University

4:00-4:20 – A Cost-Benefit Analysis of HB 56. Samuel N. Addy, Director, Center for Business and Economic Research, University of Alabama

4:20-4:40 –HB 56 and the Hispanic Population of Alabama. Casey Borch, Research Associate, Center for Demographic Research, Auburn University at Montgomery and Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, UAB

4:40-5:00 – Audience Q&A

5:00-7:00 – Dinner Break

Evening Presentation and Reception

7:00 – 9:00 – How Democracy Works Now – Special screening and conversation with filmmakers Shari Robertson and Michael Camerini, introduced by Mary Giovagnoli

Friday, Feb. 10

HB 56 and Immigrant Services
Introduced and moderated by Lynda Jentsch, Associate Professor, Department of World Languages and Cultures, Samford University

8:30-8:45 – Isabel Rubio, Executive Director, Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama
8:45-9:15 – Round Table Discussion, with

• Jeremy Love, Attorney
• Leslie Hillhouse, Case Worker, Hispanic Catholic Social Services, Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama
• Gwen Feretti, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Anthropology, University of Texas - Austin

9:15-9:30 – Audience Q&A

9:30-9:45 – Break

HB 56 and Government Operations
Introduced and moderated by Randolph Horn, Professor, Department of Political Science, Samford University

9:45-10:00 – HB 56 and County Government. Sonny Brasfield, Executive Director, Association of County Commissions of Alabama
10:00-10:15 – HB 56 and Municipalities. Jim Stanley, Assistant City Attorney, City of Birmingham
10:15-10:30 – Audience Q&A

10:30-10:45 – Break

HB 56 and Public Education
Introduced by Susan Spezzini, ESL Program Coordinator, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, UAB

10:45-11:05 – William Lawrence, Principal, Foley Elementary School, Baldwin County Public Schools
11:05-11:40 – Round Table Discussion, moderated by Dr. Julia Austin, Director of Educational Services, Graduate School, UAB), with

• Lari Valtierra, ESL Supervisor, Jefferson County School System
• Michael Wilson, Principal, Glen Iris Elementary School, Birmingham City Schools
• Linda Joseph, Principal, Gwin Elementary School, Hoover City Schools
• Dana Payne, Principal, Valley Intermediate School, Shelby County Schools

11:40-12:00 – Audience Q&A

12:00-1:00 – Lunch Break

HB 56 and Public Health
Introduced and moderated by Elaine Marshall, Assistant Professor, Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing, Samford University

1:00-1:15 – Carlos Torrez-Sanches, International Program Manager, Jefferson County Department of Health
1:15-1:45 – Round Table Discussion, with

• Edwina Taylor, Director, Cahaba Valley Healthcare
• Allison McGuire, Program Manager, Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive Medicine, UAB

1:45-2:00 – Audience Q&A

2:00-2:15 – Break

The Politics of HB 56
Introduced and moderated by Fred Shepherd, Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, Samford University

2:15-2:30 – Patricia Todd (D), Alabama State House of Representatives
2:30-2:45 – Jack Williams (R), Alabama State House of Representatives
2:45-3:00 – Billy Beasley (D), Alabama State Senate
3:00-3:15 – Jabo Waggoner (R), Alabama State Senate
3:15-3:45 – Audience Q&A

3:45-4:00 – Break

Concluding Remarks
Introduced and moderated by Chris Kyle, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, UAB

4:00-4:15 – Lawrence Downes, Editorial Board, The New York Times
4:15-4:30 – Audience Q&A