Barry University School of Law Dean Leticia M. Diaz says she’s excited about the opportunity to serve on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration. “For me this is truly timely. The United States immigration system is broken and we can no longer wait to make changes. A permanent fix is needed now,” she said. Dean Diaz and other Commission members will direct the ABA’s efforts to ensure fair treatment and full due process rights for immigrants and refugees within the United States.
The immigration issue is a passion for Dean Diaz, and she has championed changes to U.S. policy for many years. She is a fervent supporter of, and has consistently advocated for, legislation such as the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act was first introduced in 2001 and has been subsequently reintroduced several times. Under very specific and rigorous requirements, the DREAM Act legislation would have granted legal status to young adults brought to the United States as undocumented immigrant children.
”As Americans, we have a moral obligation to address the immigration reform issues facing our country,” Dean Diaz said in her article titled “Strengthening America.” The article, supporting the DREAM Act and changes to U.S. immigration policy, was entered into the Congressional Record in 2010. She has continued her advocacy and made similar arguments for change in an opinion article published in the Miami Herald in 2012.
As part of her efforts to influence decision makers, Dean Diaz spearheaded the effort to bring the White House Hispanic Community Action Summit to the Barry School of Law campus in 2011. During the two-day summit, local leaders had the opportunity to interact with White House and Cabinet level officials on a variety of important issues, which included immigration reform.
Dean Diaz said, ”I’m excited and look forward to contributing to the Commission. Ultimately, we all want to make positive change on this issue."