Dean Johnson Speaks on Undocumented Legal Services Center in UC Davis Capitol Speaker Series
Dean Kevin R. Johnson spoke at the California State Capitol on "Integrating Immigrants into the Community: The UC Undocumented Legal Services Center" as part of the UC Davis Capitol Speaker Series. The February 19 event drew media coverage including an article in Vida en el Valle and was the subject of a Dean's Blog entry by Dean Johnson.
Launched in 2014 as a pilot program of the University of California Office of the President, the center operates out of UC Davis School of Law in cooperation with the Immigration Law Clinic to provide high-quality legal assistance to support the needs of undocumented and AB 540-eligible students and their families at UC campuses without law schools: UC Merced, UC San Francisco, UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, and UC Riverside.
In his presentation at the State Capitol, Dean Johnson explained that the center was part of an effort by UC President Janet Napolitano to make the university more accommodating to undocumented immigrants. The center has exceeded expectations in terms of the number of students served, he said.
"We knew we would be providing help for many students, but we didn't think we would be as busy and as successful as we have been since we opened," said Johnson.
Kevin R. Johnson is Dean and Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and Chicana/o studies at UC Davis School of Law. He is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of immigration law and policy, refugee law, and civil rights.