Assistant Professor Heather Scavone, director of Elon Law's Humanitarian Immigration Law Clinic, shared insights with news outlets on Sept. 5, 2017, that covered changes to the immigration policy known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
An Elon Law faculty member recognized for her extensive legal work with immigrants to the United States was featured by several North Carolina news organizations in early September for her knowledge of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration policy.
DACA was implemented under the Obama Administration to assist certain people living in the United States who had entered the nation illegally as children before 2007. Qualifiying individuals have been able to apply for work permits and deferred action from deportation under the program.
On Sept. 5, 2017, the Trump Administration announced it was rescinding the policy, potentially affecting more than 800,000 people known as “Dreamers.”
Assistant Professor Heather Scavone, director of the Humanitarian Immigration Law Clinic, spoke with regional television and newspaper reporters about the policy – and what the Trump Administration’s decision would mean for thousands of families.
- News & Record / Winston-Salem Journal: “‘I have to fight’: Local immigrants awash in anger, anxiety over decision to end DACA”
- WFMY News 2 (with HILC attorneys Katherine Reynolds and Fernando Nunez): “DACA Rescinded: Elon Law Immigration Attorneys, Triad DACA Recipients React”
- FOX 8: “Triad DACA recipients ask for local lawmakers to step up”
Scavone has overseen the Humanitarian Immigration Law Clinic, which serves refugees, asylees, asylum seekers, certified victims of trafficking, and Iraqi/Afghani Special Immigrants, since its creation in 2010. The clinic has served more than 1,700 refugees and asylum seekers under Scavone’s leadership, making it one of North Carolina’s most prolific nonprofit immigration legal services providers.
Scavone is an expert on immigration legal issues affecting family reunification benefits for asylees and refugees and has been asked to present at multiple nationwide forums on this subject. She received Elon University’s 2015 Periclean Award for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility.