Trial Project
In the Coming to America project, we learned about immigration in the United States. At the end of the project, we participated in a four-way trial about immigration. The teams' positions are as follows: we should further enforce the current laws, there needs to be some sort of legalization process for those who are already here, we should allow temporary workers into the country to do the jobs that the undocumented immigrants are now doing, and there is nothing wrong with the system we have now. There were also three roles: witness/expert, lawyer, and lead attorney. The witness/experts testified the position of a predetermined role (written by them) in the case. The lawyers were in charge of one to three witnesses; working with them before the trial and the questioning them during the trial. The lead attorneys are like the leaders of the group. They do the opening and closing statements, and all cross examinations. I was a lead attorney for the second team (Team B).
As a lead attorney, we had to do many assignments. Some of those were for all students, like the Annotated Bibliography. Some had different variations depending on what role you were, like the Witness Statement/Trial Overview and Q&A/Trial Brief. Some were strictly for the lead attorneys, like the Opening and Closing Statements. After the project, we also wrote a reflection. Here are those assignments.
Annotated Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/a/hightechhigh.org/document/d/1JCuxIbXcCa1G77o7pzOFxgE7j1IynmoY99OKC5bBikE/edit
Trial Overview: https://docs.google.com/a/hightechhigh.org/document/d/1os0cDXo45VYmMtmCqFR6IMnIIPuX4VG2ye-B7XDQBAE/edit
Trial Overview: https://docs.google.com/a/hightechhigh.org/document/d/1os0cDXo45VYmMtmCqFR6IMnIIPuX4VG2ye-B7XDQBAE/edit
I had always hoped that this land might become a safe and agreeable asylum to the virtuous and persecuted part of mankind, to whatever nation they might belong
-George Washington
-George Washington
Opening Statement (said by my colleague, Erik, but written by me):
Good morning/day/afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. My name is Erik Jarvis, and here are my colleagues Kirsten Zornado, and Xavier Snaer Williams. We are here to discuss with you the issue of immigration in the Unites States. We will show you that it would be the best course of action to create a legalization process for the immigrants who are already here or who are coming in. Our opponents wrongfully claim that undocumented citizens must be removed from the United States, there should be a temporary work visa for undocumented workers, or that we should simply do nothing different from our current plan. Our opponents’ ideas may seem good on paper, but after this trial you will realize that they would simply be ineffective in execution. However, after you hear about our proposal, we think, you will be convinced that the streamlined legalization process is the most effective strategy in dealing with the immigration crisis.
The witnesses we will call to the stand will convince you beyond a reasonable doubt that our position is correct. We will call six witnesses to the stand. Rob Smith is a border patrol agent. He will testify that he has seen people crossing the border, and knows how dangerous it is. James Howlett, economic expert, will testify that he knows that legalizing all immigrants will affect the economy positively. Nora Grey owns a farm, and employs undocumented citizens. She will testify that she needs workers, and Americans don’t like to do that kind of labor. Francisco Maiten Maldonado is an Argentinean who came to the United States legally. He will testify that the process of immigrating legally is unnecessarily long. Rosalinda Perez was illegally brought to the United States by her parents when she was a baby. She had no choice but to come here then, and has no choice but to stay here now. Josefina Martinez is a single mother who crossed the border with her daughter. She will testify that she is trying to get a green card, but cannot. She is also treated unfairly at her job.
Members of the jury, we are not happy about the fact that we have long tolerated an ineffective immigration policy. But now that it has happened, we need to do something about it. Many undocumented immigrants have been in the country for many years and have become an important part of our workforce and our communities. Their children have come to identify themselves as Americans and will join our future workers. We need to help this hard working community emerge from the shadows and be recognized as part of our society. We do not take this position as part of a political agenda. We are here for humanitarian reasons and because we care about people. Think about those who risk their lives just to attain the American dream, a goal we all strive for. These people aren’t trying to ruin or hurt America. They are merely trying to get by.
Good morning/day/afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. My name is Erik Jarvis, and here are my colleagues Kirsten Zornado, and Xavier Snaer Williams. We are here to discuss with you the issue of immigration in the Unites States. We will show you that it would be the best course of action to create a legalization process for the immigrants who are already here or who are coming in. Our opponents wrongfully claim that undocumented citizens must be removed from the United States, there should be a temporary work visa for undocumented workers, or that we should simply do nothing different from our current plan. Our opponents’ ideas may seem good on paper, but after this trial you will realize that they would simply be ineffective in execution. However, after you hear about our proposal, we think, you will be convinced that the streamlined legalization process is the most effective strategy in dealing with the immigration crisis.
The witnesses we will call to the stand will convince you beyond a reasonable doubt that our position is correct. We will call six witnesses to the stand. Rob Smith is a border patrol agent. He will testify that he has seen people crossing the border, and knows how dangerous it is. James Howlett, economic expert, will testify that he knows that legalizing all immigrants will affect the economy positively. Nora Grey owns a farm, and employs undocumented citizens. She will testify that she needs workers, and Americans don’t like to do that kind of labor. Francisco Maiten Maldonado is an Argentinean who came to the United States legally. He will testify that the process of immigrating legally is unnecessarily long. Rosalinda Perez was illegally brought to the United States by her parents when she was a baby. She had no choice but to come here then, and has no choice but to stay here now. Josefina Martinez is a single mother who crossed the border with her daughter. She will testify that she is trying to get a green card, but cannot. She is also treated unfairly at her job.
Members of the jury, we are not happy about the fact that we have long tolerated an ineffective immigration policy. But now that it has happened, we need to do something about it. Many undocumented immigrants have been in the country for many years and have become an important part of our workforce and our communities. Their children have come to identify themselves as Americans and will join our future workers. We need to help this hard working community emerge from the shadows and be recognized as part of our society. We do not take this position as part of a political agenda. We are here for humanitarian reasons and because we care about people. Think about those who risk their lives just to attain the American dream, a goal we all strive for. These people aren’t trying to ruin or hurt America. They are merely trying to get by.
Closing Statement (said by me, written by myself and Erik)
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. Thank you for taking your time to listen to the facts presented to you during this trial. My colleagues and I would like to show you that the most effective solution to the issue of immigration in America is amnesty for those who are already here, and a more simple immigration process for those who are coming in.
Before you weigh the facts and arrive at your decision, I would like to remind you of effects of granting amnesty and creating a streamlined legalization process. The border will become a much safer place according to Rob Smith, a border patrol agent. Our economic expert, James Howlett, reports that with the streamlined legalization process, the tax revenue will greatly increase. This would cause more jobs and a more stable economy. Nora Grey’s workers will be legalized, making it easier to regulate them, and will also cause employers in her situation to treat their workers more fairly. With a new immigration system, a fatal situation like the loss of Francisco Maiten Maldonado’s brother will be avoided, and as Rob Smith stated, the border death rate will fall. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, life will improve for Rosalinda Perez, Josefina Martinez, and the countless of other people in their situations.
Our opponents have argued that options such as strictly enforcing current laws, issuing temporary work visas, or doing nothing, will work better than offering amnesty and a simpler legalization process. More strictly enforcing our current laws will not improve the situation. If we make it harder for immigrants to come in, they will simply find new ways of crossing the border illegally. Temporary work visas are a good idea at their core, but you can do the same things with a green card or dual citizenship. Also, the witnesses supporting this argument were unable to comment on how temporary work visas would affect America specifically. Simply doing nothing is not a feasible option. The current program is not effective in any sense of the word and there is much evidence to support this claim. Since 1998, 5,595 people have died crossing the border. Do we want that to continue? It would work much better to offer amnesty and a simpler legalization process.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, before you make your decision, we want to remind you that our country was built off of immigration. English, Irish, Italian, Chinese, Korean, German, and almost every other nationality in the world immigrated here at one point or another. Our forefathers came here looking for a better life. Why should we not let the Latino Americans also achieve this goal? Why must we stop them with giant walls and confusing paperwork? To quote America the Beautiful, “And crown thy good with brotherhood.” Brotherhood! Should we not extend this brotherhood to those who need it? To those who are unable to provide for themselves in their own countries? Not doing this would be going against the American way; everything we have strived for and built in past generations. Members of the jury, I only ask you to give these people a chance. A chance for a better life. A chance for a safer life. A chance to attain the American Dream. Thank you.
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. Thank you for taking your time to listen to the facts presented to you during this trial. My colleagues and I would like to show you that the most effective solution to the issue of immigration in America is amnesty for those who are already here, and a more simple immigration process for those who are coming in.
Before you weigh the facts and arrive at your decision, I would like to remind you of effects of granting amnesty and creating a streamlined legalization process. The border will become a much safer place according to Rob Smith, a border patrol agent. Our economic expert, James Howlett, reports that with the streamlined legalization process, the tax revenue will greatly increase. This would cause more jobs and a more stable economy. Nora Grey’s workers will be legalized, making it easier to regulate them, and will also cause employers in her situation to treat their workers more fairly. With a new immigration system, a fatal situation like the loss of Francisco Maiten Maldonado’s brother will be avoided, and as Rob Smith stated, the border death rate will fall. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, life will improve for Rosalinda Perez, Josefina Martinez, and the countless of other people in their situations.
Our opponents have argued that options such as strictly enforcing current laws, issuing temporary work visas, or doing nothing, will work better than offering amnesty and a simpler legalization process. More strictly enforcing our current laws will not improve the situation. If we make it harder for immigrants to come in, they will simply find new ways of crossing the border illegally. Temporary work visas are a good idea at their core, but you can do the same things with a green card or dual citizenship. Also, the witnesses supporting this argument were unable to comment on how temporary work visas would affect America specifically. Simply doing nothing is not a feasible option. The current program is not effective in any sense of the word and there is much evidence to support this claim. Since 1998, 5,595 people have died crossing the border. Do we want that to continue? It would work much better to offer amnesty and a simpler legalization process.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, before you make your decision, we want to remind you that our country was built off of immigration. English, Irish, Italian, Chinese, Korean, German, and almost every other nationality in the world immigrated here at one point or another. Our forefathers came here looking for a better life. Why should we not let the Latino Americans also achieve this goal? Why must we stop them with giant walls and confusing paperwork? To quote America the Beautiful, “And crown thy good with brotherhood.” Brotherhood! Should we not extend this brotherhood to those who need it? To those who are unable to provide for themselves in their own countries? Not doing this would be going against the American way; everything we have strived for and built in past generations. Members of the jury, I only ask you to give these people a chance. A chance for a better life. A chance for a safer life. A chance to attain the American Dream. Thank you.
Courthouse Field Trip:
Reflection: For this field trip, we went to the Vista Courthouse to look at the procedures associated with trials. We did a (partially scripted) mock trial that I was a lawyer for the Prosecution in. For the most part, we got to see the courtroom, where the mock trial took place. It was surprisingly quiet in the halls, and in the courtroom before the trial. During the trip, I learned about a bunch of court terms, and also the methodology for things during court. Participating in the mock trial really opened my eyes to the court procedures. It was really helpful to learn about these because then we knew what was going on during the actual trial.
Border Angels Field Trip:
(Click pics for a better view)
(Click pics for a better view)