Students and scholars from Chile study at King Hall

Last week I had the privilege of talking with a group of visiting students and scholars from Chile.  The assistant attorney general of Chile Raúl Guzmán also was in attendance.  The group was at UC Davis School of Law, meeting with students, faculty, attorneys, and others, for three weeks.  Immigration law and policy currently is a topic of discussion in Chile.  Associate Dean for International Programs Beth Greenwood and J.J. Mulligan '15, another King Hall alum, also attended the discussion.

I discussed the Trump administration's various immigration enforcement policies.  In that discussion, I explained the importance of the separation of powers and the authority of the courts to ensure that the administration comply with the law, both the laws passed by Congress and the U.S. Constitution.  My bottom line was that, in many instances, the federal courts has halted the administration from adopting policies not consistent with the immigration laws.  In addition, political resistance to immigration policies of the Trump administration have had a disciplining effect on the administration’s policies, offering as an example the bipartisan backlash to the family separation policies that led to its abandonment.

Our Chilean guests seemed very interested in the new presidential administration and the U.S. Supreme Court.  It was wonderful talking with them.