Kids & Family

Immigration Takes Stage in Barrington

'Take Six: The Big Issues of 2012' election series continues today at the Barrington library with a presentation by immigration scholar and lawyer Irene Scharf at 7 pm.

Immigration scholar and lawyer Irene Scharf will discuss immigration policy in the United States at the Barrington library tonight.

Scharf's presentation is part of the "Take Six: The Big Issues of 2012" series that is running every Thursday evening through Oct. 11 with sponsorship from the League of Women Voters. It starts at 7 pm in the auditorium.

Scharf is a Professor of Law, Director of Clinical Programs & Experiential Learning, and Director of the Immigration Law Clinic at UMass-Dartmouth, according to the UMass-Dartmouth website http://www.umassd.edu/law/about/administrationandstaff/irenemscharf/.

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She was in private practice for several years and then was counsel to administrative agencies at the local and state levels, including the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission, according to UMass-Dartmouthhttp://www.umassd.edu/law/about/administrationandstaff/irenemscharf/ . She has served as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Tobacco Litigation, and is a trained mediator in domestic relations, as well as an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Scharf has taught at the State University of New York, the University of Puget Sound School of Law (now Seattle University), Boston University Law School, Northeastern Law School, and the Institute on International and Comparative Law of the University of San Diego Law School. She is a member of the Massachusetts and New York bars.

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Scharf will answer the following questions, said Amy Greer, community services library.

  • How has American immigration policy changed throughout history?
  • Do the laws currently being proposed have historical resonance?
  • Is there a legal precedent (i.e. Supreme Court judgment) in immigration law?

The "Take Six" series is exploring the histories of and current debates about six of the major issues of the 2012 Presidential campaign, said Greer.

The rest of the "Take Six" series:

Registration is not required. The series is free and open to everyone.


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