A panel discussion titled “ICE & the Law” was held at the Knudson School of Law, featuring Taneeza Islam, J.D., CEO of South Dakota Justice For Peace; Jerry Miller, J.D., private general attorney; Joy Moore, J.D., adjunct law professor at the Knudson School of Law; and Heidi Oligmueller, J.D., private immigration attorney. The event took place on Apr. 28 and was moderated by Shirley Ortega, a second-year law student and president of the Latinx Law Student Association.
The discussion addressed issues surrounding immigration enforcement and its impact on individuals and communities. Ortega said, “I think this event was incredibly important for the USD community because the panel created a space for informed discussion rather than fear or speculation. In the current climate, immigration enforcement is not just a policy issue; it affects real people, including students.”
Professor Tom Simmons, who teaches trusts and estates at Knudson School of Law and advises some sponsoring organizations, said that having both immigration defense attorneys as well as a former sheriff and state’s attorney allowed for varied perspectives. “We had a nice cross-section of both immigration defense attorneys, as well as a former sheriff and state’s attorney to offer different perspectives. I think that the variety of voices makes for a more interesting and instructive exchange of ideas,” Simmons said. He added that students learned about complex laws while seeing possible career paths in law practice.
Simmons also said that events like these show how University of South Dakota (USD) students engage with public conversations outside their coursework: “Although students are tasked with heavy assignments and almost endless readings, they still find time to get outside their study-carrel and participate in legal discussions and events that affect individuals and communities,” he said.
Ortega reflected on her experience moderating: “As someone of Latinx heritage, immigration enforcement is not an abstract topic. It touches communities that look like mine,” she said. “Moderating this event required balancing professionalism with personal awareness of the real-world impact these policies can have.”
The USD Department of Sustainability & Environment supports cultural well-being by enabling students to address environmental challenges through campus activities or work along the Missouri River according to its official website. The department uses Akeley-Lawrence Science Center as its main facility according to its official website, operates within USD’s College of Arts & Sciences according to its official website, inspires consideration for positive change according to its official website, stands as the only university in its region offering undergraduate or graduate degrees in sustainability according to its official website, and extends influence through work with Missouri River Institute along Missouri National Recreational River according to its official website.
Eighteen student organizations sponsored this event including groups such as American Constitution Society; Black Law Students Association; Environmental Law Society; Family Law & Children’s Advocacy Group; First Generation Law Society; Health Law Society; LatinX Law Student Association; Native American Law Student Association; OutLAWS; Public Interest Network among others.
