Law Commons^™

Anti-Immigration Laws Obstruct The Education Of Undocumented Students, Valeria Jansen

Poverty Law Conference & Symposium

Anti-immigration laws create unreasonable obstacles to the academic advancement of undocumented students. A close analysis of Proposition 187 and HB 56 will show how undocumented students are still facing hardship as they navigate American schools. Also, looking at the aftereffects of Proposition 187 will help uncover ways in which all states can help support undocumented children in their academic achievements. As Justice Brennan once wrote, “Education has a fundamental role in maintaining the fabric of our society.”

Following the introduction, Part II of this essay reflects on the 1982 landmark case, Plyler v. Doe. Part III compares two anti-immigration laws: …

No Choice: At The Crossroads Of Poverty And Decreasing Abortion Access, Marja-Leena Aaltonen

Poverty Law Conference & Symposium

This paper will briefly review a portion of current abortion law in the United States and then focus on the problem through a lens of poverty with regard to access. Then the discussion will turn to lawmakers’ and religious interests’ interference in family planning decisions. Finally, I offer two steps toward making abortion more accessible to all but especially toward mitigating the costs of accessing abortion.

Utilizing Estate Plans To Achieve Economic Justice, Geber Penate

Poverty Law Conference & Symposium

Bayview has been the home to many black families for decades. However, the inability of title-holders to create distribution plans for their estate before their death has contributed to their ultimate displacement. When a title-holder of property dies, their property is required to go through a court system known as probate. The probate court system has various functions ranging from identifying assets, calculating any owed taxes and fees, and distributing property. The only way to avoid probate is through the execution of a probate-avoidance distribution document, which is mentioned in further detail below. The probate court system, to say the …

Lgbtq Youth Homelessness And Discrimination In The Child Welfare System, Markie Flores

Poverty Law Conference & Symposium

Despite the existence of LGBTQ anti-discrimination laws, LGBTQ youth are still being discriminated against within the foster care system. The primary cause of all youth homelessness is family conflict, and LGBTQ youth are more susceptible to family conflict when they come out to their parents. The Williams Institute surveyed 354 agencies throughout the United States who work with LGBTQ homeless populations and found that 68% of clients have experienced family rejection. The True Colors Fund notes that more than 1 in 4 LGBTQ teens are forced to leave their homes after coming out to their parents. LGBTQ youth also face …

The Lack Of Childcare And Its Impact In America, Anni Wang

Poverty Law Conference & Symposium

Child care is expensive. The average cost of child care in the United States can range from 9- 36% of a family’s income, depending on where they live. We are the only industrialized country that does not offer some kind paid family leave. For one of the richest countries in the world, child poverty rates have remained increasingly high in America. The lack of affordable child care has become a national crisis, with daycare costing more than in-state university tuition in half of the country.

Lowering costs and providing better access to high quality childcare can significantly increase parents’ employment …

Poverty, Domestic Violence, And The Covid-19 Pandemic, Tammy Henson

Poverty Law Conference & Symposium

There is a distinct correlation between domestic violence and level of income; the lower the income, the higher the prevalence of domestic violence. When poverty and domestic violence intertwine, the consequences for a family in poverty can be devastating. The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has added immense pressure to families in poverty already suffering economic hardship. The sudden loss of income due to the nationwide shelter in- place mandate coupled with prolonged proximity to partners and children all day make for a ticking time bomb for many families in poverty.

Law enforcement, criminal courts, and family & dependency courts follow …

Using Citizen Suits To Remedy Environmental Injustice And Achieve Clean Water In California, Paul Kneitz

Poverty Law Conference & Symposium

Nearly fifty years since the passage of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) in 1972, widespread pollution of California’s surface and groundwater continues across the state. “Over half of California’s lakes, bays, wetlands, and estuaries are too polluted to swim, drink, or fish,” according to the State Water Resources Control Board. Poor and working-class communities suffer disproportionately from the negative externalities and environmental impacts of water pollution, including effects on human health and wellness.

With a focus on the CWA citizen suit provision, this paper examines how the legal and administrative processes for water pollution control have not effectively addressed the …