Ten Years Later: An Anthology of 9/11 Reflections released

An anthology of 9/11 reflections released today by the Penn State Law Center for Immigrants’ Rights and the Penn State School of International Affairs concentrates on the impact of the attacks on the lives of immigrants and immigration policy, providing both a report card and ideas for the future.

“The tenth anniversary was the inspiration for us to bring together voices from many areas to speak and write on these issues,” said Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, clinical law professor and director of the Center. She cited contributions by the former head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, a renowned writer and leader in immigration policy, a lawyer who has represented Muslim men, community leaders, academics, policy analysts, and a professor and photojournalist.

“While the essays are sobering at times—given the impact of the far-reaching policy changes on the lives of immigrants trying to make a home in the U.S.—many offer a path forward for our nation,” Wadhia said.

The anthology includes seven essays, an interview, and remarks from five contributors including Wadhia.

Featured Essays:

Sin Yen Ling, a staff attorney at the Asian Law Caucus, is a contributor in the newly released anthology. In her essay “Keeping Immigrants Out,” she encourages challenging the “new paradigm” which has evolved since 9/11.

In her essay, “Some Progress, Many Missed Opportunities, and A Long Way to Go,” retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Margaret Stock assesses the success of the U.S. in preventing future terrorist attacks by focusing on gaps in intelligence gathering and information sharing.

Donald Kerwin, executive director of the Center for Migration Studies, reviews the U.S. refugee protection policy system ten years after 9/11.

Julie Myers Wood, president of ICS Consulting and Immigration and Customs Solutions and former head of ICE, highlights some of what she considers prudent organizational and programmatic changes to immigration enforcement after 9/11 and discusses next steps for the enforcement community in her essay, “Reflections on Immigration Enforcement and National Security.”

Priya Murthy of South Asian Americans Leading Together entreats Americans to unite in the spirit of “unity and compassion” that spread throughout the nation.

Sarah Paoletti of the University of Pennsylvania calls on the advocacy community in her essay to ensure that the recommendations in the U.S. Universal Periodic Review addressing the rights of immigrants be translated into effective policies.