On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, I will share stories of my time documenting the harms of deportation on communities throughout the US. I will consider how events throughout U.S. history—including the attacks of 9/11—have shaped immigration policy and discuss the lessons in resiliency and organizing that immigrant communities have given to us. I will end by reflecting on how we can collectively develop a better, more humane immigration system.

Dr. William Lopez is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and author of Raiding the Heartland: An American Story of Deportation and Resistance, a follow-up to his award-winning first book, Separated. In addition to his research on the health impacts of deportation, Dr. Lopez contributes to public discussions on deportation, diversity, and Latino culture in venues such as the Washington Post, CNN, TIME, and MSNBC. He is on the Boards of Health in Partnership and The Latino Newsletter.

Dr. Lopez will present in-person and will be live-streamed on Zoom.

This program collaboration was planned by OLLI’s PitchLine Project and Community Engagement Committee’s Michelle Scott.