Albany Law Review Symposium Spring 2025

From Arizona v. United States to Now: The Status of Immigration Federalism February 7, 2025 For over a century, the federal government has held a preeminent role in immigration regulation. However, the current landscape has shifted, where states have become actively involved in immigration regulation and enforcement. This Symposium will trace the power balance, or rather power imbalance, between the federal government and states and localities, most notably from Arizona v. United States onward. The Court in Arizona solidified the power of the federal government over immigration control, ultimately finding that several of the provisions in Senate Bill 1070 were preempted by federal law. Yet, even after this decision, states still attempt to put forth legislation that is inconsistent with federal policies. What role, if any, should states have in immigration regulation? What latitude do states and localities have to engage in their own immigration enforcement efforts? How do these multilevel schemes impact immigrant residents on the ground? Panelists Michael J. Wishnie William O. Douglas Clinical Professor of Law at Yale Law School Monica W. Varsanyi Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean for Humanities and Social Sciences at CUNY Graduate Center Rick Su Arch T. Allen Distinguished Professor of Law at University of North Carolina School of Law Jennifer Chacón Bruce Tyson Mitchell Professor of Law at Stanford Law School Ava Ayers Associate Professor and Director of the Online Government Affairs and Advocacy Program at Albany Law School Moderator Lauren DesRosiers Visiting Assistant Professor and Director of the Immigration Law Clinic at Albany Law School