2017 was a tumultuous year for immigrants living in the United States, and there are no signs that those struggles will diminish anytime soon. The threat of federal agents confronting and arresting potentially undocumented immigrants in places like public libraries, schools, and courthouses has had such a frightening impact that many immigrants, particularly noticeable among Oregon’s Latino population, are no longer visiting their local libraries. How are libraries and other public institutions addressing this distressing trend? What legal parameters must library staff follow if they witness ICE approaching a patron? What resources and strategies could be implemented to better meet the needs of these patrons, inside or outside of the library building? With expert panelists, including an immigration attorney and representative from
Causa, Part 1 of this session will explore the current situation for undocumented immigrants in Oregon. This will be followed by Part 2, which will discuss concrete actions libraries can take, giving attendees the encouragement they need to respond to vulnerable patrons effectively and compassionately.
