2018.034.008 Oral History Interview with Mary Studzinski May 18, 2017
This oral history focuses on Mary Studzinski, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center (PIRC) in York County, Pennsylvania. Mary discusses the history and role of PIRC in serving immigrants in detention, which began in response to the Golden Venture. The organization’s operations include educating immigrants about their legal options and guiding them through the asylum application process. She also discusses how circumstances have changed for immigrants under the Trump administration, and the repercussions of the 2017 executive orders on community safety, economies, children, and families across the country.

0:18 - Introduction, background, family, York County, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center (PIRC), attorney, pro-bono, Golden Venture, refugees, practicing immigration attorney

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2:06 - Role in serving, founding date, 1996, raising money, legal orientation program, individuals in detention, rights, detention facilities, English, Spanish, court system, family, visa, deportation, detention periods, mental health issues, persecution trauma, vulnerable populations, limited resources, staff, paralegal, community program, asylum, immigrant survivors, domestic violence, human trafficking

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8:59 - Awards and achievements, nonprofit, current challenges, undocumented immigrants, low-income, border control, government, asylum seekers, exploitation, southern border, persecution, border agent, human rights, Mexico, detention

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15:06 - Border, airports, land crossings, ports, visa, criminals, alien smugglers, terrorist, enforcement priority, threat to community, removable, ICE, executive order, violation of law, foster care, family unit, non-citizens, economy, financial perspective, national perspective, policy, afraid to leave home, victims, hearings, general fear in community, less crimes reported, bad policy, administration, swept into detention, profile

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21:49 - York County Prison, detaining prisoners, lower Manhattan, Varick Street, immigrants, averages of detainees, family detention center capacity, demographics, last five years, shift in population, fleeing from violence, criminal gangs, refugee crisis, Obama, March 2013, third language, breaking up families, children, adult children

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28:42 - Golden Venture affecting the community, broadly supported effort, making a connection, current crisis, foster care, government, impact on community

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