Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. and

Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights

are pleased to announce the next lecture in our

Human Rights and National Security Speaker Series

Suspect Citizens: East African Immigrant Reponses to Post-9/11 Legal Reforms

presented by

Elizabeth Heger Boyle

Thursday, April 15, 2004, 12:00-1:00 P.M.

at

Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

4000 Pillsbury Center

200 South Sixth Street

Minneapolis, MN

This presentation is based on in-depth interviews with 85 East Africans of Muslim and Christian descent, who arrived in Minneapolis or St. Paul as refugees or asylees. Their responses to the changing legal environment vary by gender, age, education, religion, and nationality. Despite tremendous variation, a few common themes emerge.  The East Africans responded to the increased legal burdens and restrictions with disappointment linked to their perception that Americans cannot separate “good” hardworking immigrants from “bad” terrorist immigrants. Yet, they also expressed new zeal in seeking American citizenship, both to take advantage of citizenship’s protections and to demonstrate their commitment to the “country that gave them a home.” One CLE credit will be applied for. Complimentary lunch will be provided to those who have pre-registered.

Elizabeth Heger Boyle is an Associate Professor of Sociology & Law at the University of Minnesota.  Her current project, which is funded by the National Science Foundation, considers gender differences in citizenship decisions among East African immigrants to the United States.  She is also exploring how Muslim immigrants deal with perceived contradictions between Islamic and American law.  Prior to this research, she wrote a book, Female Genital Cutting: Cultural Conflict in the Global Community (Johns Hopkins 2002) highlighting conflicts between national democratic processes and international mobilization in the case of female circumcision.  Her articles have appeared in The Law & Society Review, International Sociology, Social Problems, and other highly-respected journals.

This human rights speaker series will be held on a Thursday every other month throughout 2004.  Lectures are free and open to the public (registration required).  For more information, please contact Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights.  You may find directions to Fredrikson & Byron at: www.fredlaw.com/contact.htm

Please R.S.V.P. to Rose Park at Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights

by Tuesday, April 13th

Phone: (612) 341-3302 ext. 106 • Email: rpark@mnadvocates.org