As the U.S. Department of Homeland Security takes steps to reform the immigration detention system - a patchwork of 33,400 beds scattered throughout the country in over 250 different facilities, holding a diverse population under its "civil" immigration enforcement authority - there are lessons to be learned from experiences, challenges and best practices in the criminal justice/corrections system. Please join our panel of distinguished experts in a discussion of conditions of confinement, access to legal counsel, alternatives to detention/incarceration, barriers to release, and use of discretion in decision to detain/incarcerate.

Program:
Moderator:
- Samuel M. Witten, Counsel, Arnold & Porter, and former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (2007 - 2010).
Panelists:
- Steve J. Martin, Attorney, corrections consultant, and former General Counsel of the Texas prison system
- Laura Sullivan, Correspondent and Investigative Reporter for National Public Radio
- Gary Mead, Executive Associate Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Ruthie Epstein, Researcher & Advocate, Refugee Protection Program, Human Rights First
Coffee and a light breakfast will be served beginning at 8:00 AM.

Registration:
RSVP to plummerk@humanrightsfirst.org by Friday, January 27th