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Minnesota CLE recently found itself having to backpedal after it invited representatives of what has been called an anti-immigrant hate group to address the Criminal Justice Institute.
After concerns were raised by immigration lawyers, Minnesota CLE took steps to ensure that comments by attorney Julie Kirchner of Federation for American Immigration Reform would be presented in context with other opinions, according to a letter from Frank V. Harris, Minnesota CLE executive director, to attorney Paschal Nwokocha, head of the Minnesota chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
The organization is controversial. FAIR's representatives have been repeatedly called on by Congress, as well as the national media, to discuss the state of immigration policy in the United States.; yet many immigrant advocacy groups are concerned by what they see as fear-mongering on the part of FAIR and its representatives. It has been criticized by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has the organization on its list of hate groups.
"We are concerned that FAIR is not fair," Nwokocha said. "FAIR is an extremist organization [that] advocates for a very restrictive immigration policy. We think that this is not the best organization to educate judges and lawyers. "
Nwokocha acknowledged that Minnesota CLE should present differing opinions but was concerned that FAIR's agenda was not adequately disclosed. He attributed that to a lack of understanding about the organization. He said that when FAIR's participation came to the attention of immigration lawyers, they expressed their feelings "quite vocally" to Minnesota CLE.
In a letter to Nwokocha, Harris said that Minnesota CLE had not been aware of the concerns raised by the immigration bar. "We understood that the topic of illegal immigration was a controversial one with strongly differing views held by various members of the criminal justice community. We never, however, in the planning of a program, intend to provide a forum for advocates of intolerance, hatred or bigotry. "
Harris said in the letter that Kirchner was recommended by one of Minnesota CLE's "longtime program planners," Rich Stanek, the Hennepin County Sheriff.
Harris told Minnesota Lawyer that it is not unusual to receive complaints about programming and speakers at any CLE, including the Criminal Justice Institute. "We bring together diverse points of view. The faculty doesn't even agree," he said. "I think that's fine, particularly with this course. We want to bring together different perspectives. "
Harris explained that the schedule for the institute had to be adjusted to accommodate a speech by Chief Justice Eric Magnuson and that accordingly, two sessions on illegal immigration were combined into one panel discussion where everyone had a chance to express his or her views. In addition to Kirchner, the panel was composed of Claude Arnold, special agent in charge of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Investigations in Bloomington; John Keller, executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota; Charles Samuelson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota; and Stanek, who served as moderator.
Stanek's role still didn't sit well with Nwokocha. "Why did we still have Stanek as moderator?" he said.
Stanek was a police officer with the Minneapolis Police Department and formerly Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner. He resigned that post in 2004 after he admitted in a deposition over a police brutality case that he had used racial epithets.
Other than Stanek's participation, Nwokocha is satisfied with the results of the experience. He said he was thankful for the opportunity to express his views to Minnesota CLE and believes them when they said they will be more careful about vetting in the future. He also is happy to let FAIR know it is not a mainstream organization.
Both Nwokocha and Harris said there were no complaints about the panel after it was concluded.
September 2, 2008
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