Employing Immigrant Workers Workshop

June 17, 1-3 p.m., Briar Cliff University, Student Stark Center, 3303 Rebecca St., Sioux City, IA 51104

A workshop for Iowa businesses and human resource professionals who want to have more information about avoiding citizenship and immigration status discrimination.

The workshop will feature two presentations:

"Avoiding Citizenship and Immigration Status Discrimination in Employment Settings"

Raheemah Abdulaleem, Senior Trial Attorney in the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC), in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice

"Panel Discussion"

Erica DeLeon, Executive Director, Mary J. Treglia Community House
Jennifer Horken, H.R. Manager, BPI
Amy Erlbacker-Anderson, Partner, Baird Holm LLP

Speaker's Bio:

Raheemah Abdulaleem is a Senior Trial Attorney in the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC), in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Ms. Abdulaleem investigates charges of discrimination as part of the OSC's mandate to enforce the antidiscrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), and determines whether reasonable cause exists to file a lawsuit. Ms. Abdulaeem is responsible for investigating charges of discrimination and educating workers, worker advocates and employers about their rights and responsibilities under the antidiscrimination provision of the INA. Ms. Abdulaleem also serves on the National Origin Working Group and serves as the OSC's liaison with USCIS Monitoring and Compliance Division on E-Verify.

Sponsored by Siouxland Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Briar Cliff
University and the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights.

Employing Immigrant Workers Workshop

April 8, 1-3 p.m., Iowa Valley Continuing Education Conference Center, room 614, Marshalltown Community College Campus, 3702 South Center Street Marshalltown, IA 50158

A workshop for Iowa businesses and human resource professionals who want to have more information about avoiding citizenship and immigration status discrimination.

The workshop will feature two presentations:

"Avoiding Citizenship and Immigration Status Discrimination in Employment Settings"

Raheemah Abdulaleem, Senior Trial Attorney in the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC), in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice

"Practical Aspects of Hiring, Discipline and Termination: Employment Law and Immigration Compliance"

Lori Chesser, attorney and chair of the Davis Brown immigration department, Des Moines

Jo Ellen Whitney, Senior Shareholder of the Davis law firm, Des Moines

Speakers' Bios:

Raheemah Abdulaleem is a Senior Trial Attorney in the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC), in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Ms. Abdulaleem investigates charges of discrimination as part of the OSC's mandate to enforce the antidiscrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), and determines whether reasonable cause exists to file a lawsuit. Ms. Abdulaeem is responsible for investigating charges of discrimination and educating workers, worker advocates and employers about their rights and responsibilities under the antidiscrimination provision of the INA. Ms. Abdulaleem also serves on the National Origin Working Group and serves as the OSC's liaison with USCIS Monitoring and Compliance Division on E-Verify.

Lori Chesser is an attorney and chair of the Davis Brown immigration department. She has been practicing immigration law for more than 15 years, and is active locally and nationally in educating attorneys, employers and the public regarding immigration law and policy.  She has served on the national Worksite Enforcement and the Immigration & Customs Enforcement Liaison committees of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and is currently serving on the Citizenship & Immigration Service Benefits Liaison Committee.  She represents both employers and individuals in immigration compliance matters. 

Jo Ellen Whitney is a Senior Shareholder of the Davis law firm, having obtained her degrees (B.A., magna cum laude, and J.D.) from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Jo practices primarily in the areas of labor and employment law, healthcare law, privacy, and fair housing.

In the areas of labor and employment law, Jo handles a variety of issues ranging from business planning and contracts, representation before administrative agencies such as the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, the EEOC and local Human Rights Commissions, as well as state and federal court. As a long-term member of the firm’s Human Resources Committee, Jo brings practical experience to bear on business planning, discipline and termination issues for employers. Business planning areas include the development of contracts, as well as employee manuals, handbooks, and internal policies and practices for employment issues and regulatory compliance, including the ADA, FLSA, HIPAA and FMLA. Jo has developed sample policies for a number of professional groups and organizations including members of the Iowa Telecommunications Association and the Iowa Healthcare Association.

As part of her ongoing work involving civil rights commissions, Jo has previously served as a mediator and guest speaker for the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and the Des Moines Human Rights Commission.