The United Nations estimates that 11,000 North Koreans are in hiding on the Chinese side of the border. If they are returned to their country it is believed that they will face punishment in the form of internment in labor camps, torture, or execution. Despite their almost-certain persecution upon return, current Chinese policy is to treat most North Koreans who cross the border as illegal economic migrants rather than as refugees.

This brown bag lunch features a discussion of international legal prohibitions against refoulement -- the return of refugees to territories where life or freedom would be threatened -- in the context of China's legal obligations with respect to North Korean refugees.

Heather L. Hodges is an attorney in private practice in Washington D.C., where she has an extremely active pro bono practice focused on international human rights advocacy and asylum/immigration cases. In addition to representing clients during asylum proceedings, she also interviews incarcerated immigration detainees as a volunteer with the Capitol Area Immigrants Rights Coalition and has served as legal counsel to new immigration detainees during credible fear interviews. Recent legal victories include winning a grant of asylum for a Sudanese physician tortured for providing medical assistance in Darfur. Heather is also a long-time member of the Board of Directors of both the District of Columbia Bilingual Public Charter School and CentroNía, an education and family services provider to low-income and immigrant families, which together serve more than 600 infants, children, youth, and families in the District of Columbia. Her advocacy on behalf of these institutions has included political lobbying and media appearances.

Pizza will be served. This event is free and open to the public.

Speaker: Heather L. Hodges
Affiliation: Rule of Law in Asia Program
Contact: Katherine Hughes, Crowley Fellow
Telephone: (646) 312-8770
Email: khughes@law.fordham.edu