APABA Holds Unity Night Event With A DACA Panel Discussion and Applauds the UC Regents' Decision To Employ All Students Regardless of Immigration Status

Los Angeles, CA – On May 17, 2023, in honor of AAPI Heritage Month, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County (APABA) held a 2023 AAPI Unity Night event with a panel discussion on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act (DACA).

Given the Fifth Circuit's October 2022 ruling that the DACA program violated the Administrative Procedure Act, the event featured four distinguished panelists and an excellent moderator who spoke about the experiences of AAPI DACA recipients, the future of DACA, and the Opportunity for All campaign, a California-wide organizing effort led by undocumented student organizers to press the University of California system to remove barriers to employment that negatively impact undocumented students.

The panel was moderated by Professor Kathleen Kim, Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion at Loyola Law School. Panelists included Professor Ahilan Arulanatham, Professor from Practice and Co-Director of the Center of Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA Law School; Yurie Blons, Advanced Clinical Student for Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic (Loyola Law '23) and former DACA recipient; Ju Hong, Director of the UCLA Dream Resource Center and Host of ImmigrAsians Podcast; and Miso Jang, Program Manager at AAPI Equity Alliance.

The next day, APABA celebrated the University of California Regents' announcement regarding its intention to allow the employment of all students regardless of immigration status.

“APABA's AAPI Heritage Month event has been one of its signature events in its 25-year history and provides an opportunity for APABA members and community partners to come together to discuss critical and timely issues affecting AAPI communities,” stated Erica Yen, APABA President. "This year it was particularly timely to hear from panelists whose advocacy directly contributed to a historic decision announced the following day. APABA applauds the UC system's commitment to immigrant youth rights and equal opportunities for all."

The AAPI Unity Night Event was co-hosted by the Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers Association and supported by 13 presenting sponsors and community sponsors. It was held at Loyola Law School with catering provided by Park's Finest.