IMMIGRATION LAW AND IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS, Winter 2006
LEGAL 160, M-Th 11-12:03, Room 23-107
Instructor: Ché Dawson, J.D. 206-878-3710 x3087, , Office: 29-232
Website: flightline.highline.edu/cdawson
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 12:15-1:15 or by appointment
Required Texts: US Immigration Law Made Easy, 11th Edition
Recommended Websites:, ,
Course Objective: To provide students with fundamental theoretical and practical knowledge of the American Legal System, immigration law and procedure, facts and myths related to immigrants’ rights, an awareness of immigration policy issues and an ability to recognize arguments on both sides of immigration issues.
Tentative Schedule of Review:
Introduction; Nonimmigrant Visa Overview
Week 1(January 3)Chapters 2, 3, 14
Nonimmigrant Visas (The Alphabet Soup)
Week 2(January 9)Chapters 15-18
Week 3(January 16 Holiday; January 17)Chapters 19-21
Week 4(January 23)Chapters 22-24
Inadmissibility; Special Rules for Canadians and Mexicans; Intro To Green Cards
Week 5 (January 30)Chapters 25, 28, 4
Green Cards Through Family Members
Week 6(February 6)Midterm Monday, February 6; Chapters 5-7
Green Cards Through Employment; Other Means
Week 7(February 13)Chapters 9-11
Week 8(February 20 Holiday; February 21)Chapters 12, 13
Naturalization and Citizenship
Week 9(February 27)Chapters 26, 27
Review
Week 10 (March 6)Review/Catch-Up Week
Monday, March 13Review
Tuesday, March 14FINAL EXAM (10:00-11:50)
Grades:Attendance and participation in class is vital. Simply reading the text will make it difficult to fully comprehend the material and to obtain a satisfactory grade in the course.
A grade of 77% or higher is required for successful completion of the class!
Grades will be based primarily on exam scores. There may also be quizzes randomly scheduled during the quarter and assignments given at my discretion to ensure accountability and a progressive working knowledge of the material.
Daily Issues: A calendar will be made that makes each student responsible for bringing at least one (and possible two, depending on the number of students in the class) news article to class during the quarter. The student will need to: (1) quickly summarize the article in class, (2) provide a copy of the article for each student, and (3) turn in a copy of the article and a reflective paper (maximum one page) with the student’s name on it. The article must relate to the rights of non-citizens and can be from any source. Each article assignment is worth 25 points. The class will then have a maximum 20 minute point/counterpoint session in which thoughtful comments about the article can be discussed.
Journals:
Each student must obtain a cheap spiral notebook to keep as a personal journal. 5 Minutes will be given each day after the article assignment is completed and before discussion for students to reflect on the article in a personal journal. The journal will be collected at the end of the quarter. 5 points will be given for each day’s journal entry for a maximum of 175 points. The point value given will be based on a students effort in critically thinking about the immigration issue reflected in the article. Each journal entry must indicate, as a header, the following:
1. The Name of The Person Providing the Article
2. The Source of The Article
3. The Date of The Article
4. A concise statement of the Basic Immigration Issue in the Article (e.g. “Whether . . .”)
Source of Grade:
MIDTERM EXAM250 POINTS
FINAL EXAM350 POINTS
ARTICLE ASSIGNMENT25-50 POINTS
JOURNAL ENTRIES175 POINTS
MISCELLANEOUS ASSIGNMENTS/QUIZZESUP TO 100 POINTS
TOTAL POINTS:825-950 POINTS
97-100%=4.086%=2.976%=1.966%=0.9
96%=3.985%=2.875%=1.865%=0.8
95%=3.884%=2.774%=1.764%=0.7
94%=3.783%=2.673%=1.663%=0.6
93%=3.682%=2.572%=1.562%=0.5
92%=3.581%=2.471%=1.461%=0.4
91%=3.480%=2.370%=1.360%=0.3
90%=3.379%=2.269%=1.259%=0.2
89%=3.278%=2.168%=1.158%=0.1
88%=3.177%=2.067%=1.057%=0.0
87%=3.0
Deadlines are real. No late work will be accepted and no make-ups will be allowed unless prior arrangements have been made with me.
Please be respectful with cell phones and pagers
Accommodation: If you have a medical condition the instructor needs to know about for your safety and/or that of the class in case of an emergency evacuation of the building, or if you have a certified disability and need some accommodation that doesn't reduce or infringe on academic standards of the course, please provide the instructor with a Letter of Accommodation you have obtained from the Office of Access Services in Bldg. 6 in the Student Development Center.
POLICY REGARDING ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty are unacceptable to the Instructor and at Highline Community College and are subject to disciplinary action by the College, including but not limited to not being given credit for the subject assignment or exam. All students must author their own projects and perform their own assignments and exams. Students may not copy anyone else’s work, including published materials, and present it as their own.