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UH LAW CENTER’S INITIATIVE ON GLOBAL LAW AND POLICY

DISCUSSION ANALYZED PANDEMIC’S IMPACT ON GLOBAL COMMERCE

International law scholars discussed how the COVID-19 crisis led
Ito a decline in trade across the world and emphasized the need
for greater collaboration amongst regions and nations in future
emergencies during a virtual presentation hosted in April by the
University of Houston Law Center’s Initiative on Global Law and
Policy University of Bologna Center for Latin American Studies.
“International Trade in the Time of COVID-19,” was the fourth
event in a six-part series, co-sponsored by the American Society of
International Law-Latin America Interest Group.
The webinar series was co-organized by GLPA founding director
Elizabeth Trujillo, the Law Center’s Mary Ann & Lawrence E. Faust
Professor of Law, and Sabrina Ragone, a Professor of Comparative
Law at the University of Bologna.
The webinar’s keynote speaker was Gabrielle Marceau, senior counsellor In Trujillo’s remarks, she said many current challenges were
in the Research Division of the World Trade Organization, and a in existence before the pandemic, such as the rise of increased
professor at the University of Geneva. Boston College of Law Professor protectionism, and the need to recalibrate our relationship with
Frank García served as the moderator and as a discussant with Trujillo. international trade on areas such as sustainability, energy, the digital
In Marceau’s wide-ranging remarks, she touched on how the WTO economy, intellectual property protections and regulation.
has responded to the pandemic and its role as a “transparency hub,” “In the last four years, an ‘America-first’ policy, made America
the need for cooperation amongst nations and for public private withdraw from some of these agreements and globalization in
partnerships for the production and distribution of medical goods general,” Trujillo said.
and vaccines. She also discussed multiple international proposals that Trujillo discussed specific trade issues that need updating to better
gather different actors, placing an emphasis on sustainability. address future global emergencies, especially around subsidies and
“We cannot aside the simple point that this pandemic was caused by the national security defense in trade. “We also need to change the
the way we live,” Marceau said. “We need to deal ºdifferently with narrative around trade. We need to make it more palatable to citizens
nature and the environment. The crisis seems to have shaken up so they understand that trade is a tool to help people improve their
governments so that they realize that we need to take action, because lives, to create access to vaccines for example--that trade is be part of
this is really a global problem that shows that all humans are equal.” the solution and part of their daily lives.” ^

UH LAW CENTER IMMIGRATION CLINIC STUDENTS HELP FREE

HAITIAN MAN FACING DEPORTATION

Haitian man suffering mental illness was released from an U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor stated that if forced
A Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center this to return to Haiti, the deportee would be targeted for “cruel and
year through the diligence of Clinical Professor Geoffrey Hoffman, dehumanizing mistreatment” because of his schizophrenia, bipolar
students from the University of Houston Law Center’s Immigration disorder and psychosis.
Clinic and attorneys from Baker Botts and American Gateways “His release from ICE custody is an enormous victory for our client
law firms. and Clinic,” Immigration Clinic Clinical Supervising Attorney
“Our client was only days away from being physically deported, Parker Sheffy said. “But it truly underscores the enormous
but we went to the Supreme Court and received a wonderful and hurdles immigrants must overcome to prevail within the current
thoughtful opinion from Justice Sotomayor written in dissent,” immigration system.
Hoffman, director of the Immigration Clinic said. “I am so honored to “From this case, I learned the complex and interesting nature of
work with talented law students, colleagues and fellow attorneys who Immigration Law,” 2L Aletsey Hinojosa said. “However, protecting
all pulled together. He will now be released, and that is due to all the our clients and achieving social justice makes it all worth it.”
team members’ efforts.”
Arguing that the immigration appellate board erred when remanding Hoffman and Sheffy will continue working with students and pro
bono partners on his Fifth Circuit case. ^
an immigration judge’s initial decision to grant deportation relief,

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