Immigration Ain't Easy

Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 44: Ian Philabaum, Innovation Law Lab

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2394778/fan_mail/new] Ian Philabaum is the Director of Legal Organizing for Innovation Law Lab and has spent nearly the past decade in assisting immigrants through his work at ILL. He has been at the forefront in the push against the proliferation of ICE detention throughout our country. He has assisted children and families in detention. He has worked to fight against the human rights violations that occur in immigration detention including inhumane medical treatment, labor exploitation and physical and psychological abuse. Behind the ingenuity and leadership of Stephen Manning, Innovation Law Lab was founded to harness the power of technology, law, and activism all in a single organization to end the mass incarceration of children and mothers with limited due process, if any, and in inhumane conditions. Innovation Law Lab leverages the work of coders, lawyers, and activists in order to end isolation and exploitation of immigrants and refugees, build permanent pathways to immigrant inclusion, and advance justice. Since its founding, Innovation Law Lab’s work has advanced the cause of justice. Based in Portland, Oregon, Law Lab has team members in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Washington, and Mexico. Ian joins me to discuss his pathway to immigration advocacy, stories from the frontlines and the critical work of ILL and their partner organizations.

Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 43: Attorneys Marc Van Der Hout & Johnny Sinodis

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2394778/fan_mail/new] Representing immigrants in their deportation proceedings can be a challenge, but it can be even more formidable when your client is Mahmoud Khalil. Mr. Khalil, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., was arrested by the Trump administration after being a prominent member of the Israel/Gaza war protests at Columbia University.  He was detained in Louisiana for three months before a federal judge ruled that he must be released to his wife and newborn baby son. Two of the key members of his legal team, Marc Van Der Hout & Johnny Sinodis, join me to discuss his case (note: the interview was recorded prior to last week's decision ordering Mr. Khalil deported to Algeria or Syria). They also talk about their own backgrounds and why they have dedicated their professional careers to helping immigrants. Mr. Van Der Hout, one of the most recognized attorneys in the field, has made a career of fighting for the most marginalized in our society. He is the former national president of the National Lawyers Guild and his high-impact litigation has made an indelible mark on precedent case law. He is based in San Francisco as the founding member of Van Der Hout, LLP. Mr. Sinodis is a partner at Van Der Hout LLP. He has built a reputation as an incredible advocate for human rights as an expert in removal defense, appeals, the immigration consequences of criminal convictions, and federal court litigation. Prior to joining Van Der Hout, he practiced at Salvatierra Law Group in Phoenix, Arizona, where he handled criminal and immigration cases, and regularly represented individuals who were subjected to racially discriminatory policing practices in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 42: Dr. Michael Lokale

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2394778/fan_mail/new] Running brings great health benefits for many, but for Dr. Michael Lokale it brought him opportunity and a chance at the American dream. Dr. Lokale was born and raised in a remote tribal village, Kitale, Kenya to corn farmers. He witnessed many people die of preventable diseases. The lack of medical care motivated him to become a doctor and his intention was to go back to Kenya and help improve the healthcare in his native land, but, like the Boston Marathon, life has many twists and turns. Dr. Lokale knew that he could get a top-notch education in the United States, but getting a scholarship would be a necessity to reach the finish line. His cousin, Paul Ereng, surprised the world in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul when he came out of nowhere to win the gold medal in the 800 meter race. Paul knew how important it was to use your best skills to get your foot in the door as he ran for the University of Virginia and received his bachelors degree. Paul told Dr. Lokale how to apply for an athletic scholarship. He applied and was awarded a four-year scholarship to Virginia Military Institute. Warning: This is only the halfway mark of this marathon of a story. In 2003, with his combination of athletic and academic excellence, Dr. Lokale received the prestigious Rhodes scholarship. At the time, he was only the 10th VMI graduate to ever receive this award. To put it into perspective, the previous VMI awardee was in 1967. His next stop: Oxford University in England where he got to mingle with the Queen of England and Nelson Mandela. Most importantly, he met his future wife Kathy who was also studying there. Dr. Lokale returned to the U.S. after Oxford to attend the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He now resides in Oro Valley, Arizona where he keeps people healthier and happier. On a regular basis, Dr. Lokale returns to Kenya to volunteer at a clinic in the town where he grew up. His career finish line is still far away, but he has already won a gold medal in lifetime accomplishments!

Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 41: Kavan Hazeli, Associate Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2394778/fan_mail/new] Kavan Hazeli is an associate professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at the University of Arizona, with a joint appointment in the Biomedical Engineering Department and the College of Optical Sciences. An immigrant from Iran, Hazeli received the 2020 National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award in 2020.  He joins me to talk about his immigrant story and path to running his own research group. He also discusses the impact of government funding cuts, unfair targeting of foreign students and how it has and will impact critical research. Professor Hazeli's research group is active in designing, characterizing, and optimizing multi-functional materials built by additive manufacturing techniques, focusing on materials performance and failure mechanisms under fatigue, impact, and thermomechanical loading.  Hazeli's research group is developing camera-based technology that integrates advanced 3D imaging, AI, and cloud connectivity to assess human movement and biomechanics. This technology quantifies motion and posture metrics allowing the team to investigate joint functionality, range of motion, and overall posture, delivering actionable performance data for orthopedic specialists, sports medicine, and physical therapy professionals. Additionally, by continuously learning from gait and posture patterns, their work aims to predict fall risk in elderly populations, supporting early intervention and personalized care.

Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 40: Professor Leah Ndimurwimo, International Human Rights Expert

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2394778/fan_mail/new] At a time where immigration steals the headlines almost every day, Professor Leah Ndimurwimo focuses her research on migration and refugee studies. She is a recognized expert on international human rights and, in particular, South African and international law. Professor Ndimurwimo works at Nelson Mandela University, but is currently a Fulbright research scholar at the University of Arizona.  She is an author and co-author of peer-reviewed publications on violations of human rights in Africa. Leah joins me to talk about her research, her background and the current state of migration in our world.