Can Federal Litigation Protect Refugee and Migration Rights?

Join Donald Kerwin, JRS/USA VP of Advocacy, Research, and Partnerships and guest expert Sam Callahan, Senior Associate at Arnold & Porter for the first Ignatian Migration Dialogue as we explore how the courts are shaping the future of refugee protection and immigration issues in the United States.

About This Dialogue

In today’s United States, refugee and migration rights are under mounting pressure. Litigation has emerged as a critical way to challenge harmful policies and defend the dignity of displaced people. But how effective is it—and where does it fit within broader advocacy efforts?

In this first Ignatian Migration Dialogue, Donald Kerwin, JRS/USA Vice President of Advocacy, Research, and Partnerships will be joined by Sam Callahan, Senior Associate at Arnold & Porter and former Senior Counsel at the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Together, they’ll explore the opportunities and limitations of impact litigation and how advocates, faith communities, and concerned citizens can play a role in protecting refugee and migration rights.

Key Discussion Points

• The role of litigation in support of refugee protection, public education, and an integrated advocacy strategy
• How non-lawyers can contribute—through advocacy, sharing information, and community action
• Case spotlight: Global Health Council v. Trump. 
• Audience Q&A with the panel

Guest Speaker

Sam Callahan
Senior Associate, Arnold & Porter

Sam Callahan, a member of Arnold & Porter’s Appellate & Supreme Court practice group, has secured major wins at every level of the federal judiciary in cases involving refugee protection, constitutional law, and government accountability.

Previously, as Senior Counsel at the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Sam advised on litigation strategy, regulatory challenges, and executive authority, particularly in cases impacting migration and refugee policy.

He clerked for Judge Paul V. Niemeyer (U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit) and Judge Christopher R. Cooper (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia). A graduate of Harvard Law School (magna cum laude), he served as Executive Editor of the Harvard Law Review.

Beyond the courtroom, Sam is also an accomplished musician, performing with the Capital City Symphony and serving as a National Endowment for the Arts grants panelist.

Why Attend?

This dialogue is more than a legal discussion—it is an opportunity to understand how faith, law, advocacy, and public education converge in the fight for refugee protection and sound immigration policies.