What attorneys, school leaders, and students say about immigration enforcement in Minnesota

Discuss an urgent issue facing Minnesota families at the Minnesota Urban Debate League’s CLE Event on April 15.

Portrait of panelists with title: Impact of Immigration Enforcement Action on K-12 Schools: Perspectives from Attorneys, School Leaders and Students

Minnesota schools are feeling the impact of federal immigration enforcement in real time. Attendance is down, students are scared, and school leaders are making decisions they never anticipated. Now, a legal battle is underway.

On Wednesday, April 15, the Minnesota Urban Debate League is hosting a timely lunchtime panel at the IDS Center in Minneapolis to bring together attorneys, school district leaders, and students. This conversation will address one of the most pressing issues facing Minnesota’s K-12 communities right now.

What’s Being Discussed

Attorneys from Education Minnesota, Zimmerman Reed, and Nilan Johnson Lewis will provide an update on the active lawsuit seeking to block immigration enforcement activities at or near Minnesota schools. School leaders will share how enforcement actions are affecting daily operations, and MNUDL students will speak to their own experiences — the voices that matter most.

Headshots of speakers described below

Panelists

  • Moderator: Kathleen Curtis, Nilan Johnson Lewis
  • Speaker: David Aron, Education Minnesota
  • Speaker: Michael Laird, Zimmerman Reed
  • Speaker: Dr. Brenda Lewis, Fridley Public Schools
  • Special Guests: MNUDL Students

For Attorneys: Earn CLE Credit

1.0 Elimination of Bias Credits have been applied for. Registration is $60 and includes a light lunch. A Zoom option is available for those who can’t attend in person at the IDS Center.

For Everyone: Join Us 

Members of the public who are not seeking CLE credits are welcome to join us with a suggested $30 donation to the Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL).

The MNUDL serves 1,850 students across 10 Minnesota school districts. Many of them are directly affected by the current enforcement climate. Debate programming has a proven track record of improving graduation rates, GPAs, and college enrollment. These are kids building skills in evidence, argumentation, and civic engagement. They deserve a stable, safe learning environment to do it.

If you care about educational equity, immigrant rights, or simply the rule of law as it applies to schools, this is a conversation worth joining.

Event Details

  • Date: Wednesday, April 15 · 12:00–1:15pm CDT
  • Location: IDS Center, 3rd Floor Conference Room, 80 S 8th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402
  • Zoom link also available upon registration
  • CLE credit: $60 | General admission: $30 suggested donation

Click here to register via Eventbrite. 

This event is organized in support of the MN Urban Debate League, a program of Augsburg University. To learn more about supporting MNUDL students, visit The Minnesota Urban Debate League.