Breaking the I.C.E. on Immigration Enforcement and Federal Power

Doors open at 5:30 PM and the program will begin at 6 PM. There will be a post-event discussion online the week following the program.

The “Big Beautiful Bill” dedicated over $170 billion to immigration and border enforcement. As immigration enforcement expands, questions grow around the balance between national security and human rights. Join APS and the 2026 Student Ambassadors for a conversation about detention centers, ICE operations, and the growth of federal power. Featuring experts and those most affected by current policy, this Civics Education Initiative student-designed discussion will examine where to draw the line between immigration enforcement and liberty.

Dr. Micah W. Kubic has served as the Executive Director of the ACLU of Kansas since January 2022.  With more than twenty years of experience in civil rights and racial justice work, Micah leads one of the largest advocacy organizations in the state, defending and strengthening the rights that belong to everyone under the Constitution.  Micah previously served as the ACLU of Kansas’s executive director from 2015 to 2018.  From 2019 to 2022, Micah was the executive director of the ACLU of Florida, one of the largest ACLU affiliates in the country. Micah holds bachelors’ degrees from the George Washington University, as well as a master’s degree and a doctorate in Black Politics from Howard University. His first book, Freedom, Inc. and Black Political Empowerment, was published by the University of Missouri Press in 2016.

Sarah R. Saldaña is a former Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), where she led a $6 billion agency with 20,000 employees operating in the United States and 46 countries. Appointed in 2014, she oversaw enforcement of federal laws governing border control, customs, trade, and immigration. Previously, Saldaña served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, leading an office of 200 employees and approximately 100 federal prosecutors. She was selected by Attorney General Eric Holder to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. Earlier, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Criminal Chief, she prosecuted cases involving fraud, civil rights, human trafficking, and public corruption. A graduate of Southern Methodist University School of Law and Texas A&I University (summa cum laude), Saldaña now serves on several nonprofit boards focused on democracy, public policy, and opportunity.

W. Michael Sharma-Crawford is an aggressive litigator and compassionate advocate of fairness in immigration law. As a former law enforcement officer, Michael has a deeper understanding of the challenges of immigration law enforcement, detainment issues and litigation. Michael frequently handles complex immigration proceedings where current statutes require greater experience and understanding. Michael frequently lectures at the AILA national and mid-year conferences. He has also lectured about immigration law to the Kansas and Missouri Bar Associations, and Kansas and Missouri Public Defenders. Michael was one of the attorneys who was counsel on the successful Supreme Court Appeal, Mellouli v. Lynch, 135 S. Ct. 1980 (2015). He has successfully argued other cases before the Circuit Courts of Appeal and has handled many successful matters before the Board of Immigration Appeals. He is admitted to the District Courts of Kansas and Missouri and the Federal Appeals Court for the Second, Seventh, Eighth and Tenth Circuits. He is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association, Kansas Bar Association, Missouri Bar Association, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. Michael serves as ICE Liasion for the local AILA Chapter. His former service includes the Board of Directors for Kansas Legal Services, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation, the Advisory Committee for the ABA Commission on Immigration and as a member of the USCIS Field Operations Liaison Committee for AILA.

Sean Smith was elected to the Jackson County Legislature in 2022, bringing with him more than 25 years of experience as a small business entrepreneur and advisor to major businesses and institutions. Over the course of his career, he has helped organizations improve efficiency, strengthen operations, and better serve the people who rely on them. Today, he applies that same practical experience to public service in Jackson County. The son of a union firefighter, Smith moved to Jackson County more than 20 years ago to raise his family in the community he now represents. His three children, now young adults, experienced homeschooling, Christian schools, and public schools, giving him a broad perspective on education and family life in the region. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with concentrations in Accounting and Management. Smith has also been an active supporter of local organizations including Veterans Community Project and ReHope, reflecting his commitment to serving veterans, supporting vulnerable populations, and strengthening the community.

Lauren Magarino is a KCTV5 anchor who enjoys digging deep into the stories and issues shaping life in the Kansas City community. Her reporting has examined everything from federal government cuts affecting local veterans’ livelihoods and health care to the local impact of immigration policy on families and neighborhoods. Previously, Magarino served as an anchor and national correspondent for Scripps News, where she covered major national and international events, including presidential elections, impeachments, and wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. Throughout her career, she has given audiences a front-row seat to some of the most significant stories of recent years, with the clarity, context, and compassion.

Watch Lauren’s investigation, Beyond the Border, a KCTV5 special on immigration.

Mary Sanchez is a nationally syndicated columnist with Tribune Content Agency. She has also been a metro columnist for The Kansas City Star and member of the Star’s editorial board, in addition to her years spent reporting on race, class, criminal justice and educational issues.