lorilei 's work is rooted in having had a long, varied career working on numerous human rights projects. Below are select articles and publications describing work lorilei has contributed to. Integral to lorilei's approach is a deep understanding of community transformation and advocacy, which they continue to practice in their legal advocacy and contribute to as a consultant and coach for litigation and advocacy teams nationwide.
On trauma-informed, antiracist advocacy:
“An Antiracist Approach to Trauma-Informed Lawyering,” by lorilei w. for the Shriver Center on Poverty Law (June 29, 2021).
“Remarks for a White House Gender Policy Council Listening Session,” by lorilei w., published by the Shriver Center on Poverty Law (October 7, 2021).
“COVID Stories: Lorilei,” by Lorilei Williams, for the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research (February 28, 2022).
On border advocacy:
"At the Border and Beyond: Women Lawyers Defend Unprecedented Attacks on Asylum Law," by Hannah Hayes for the American Bar Association (Sept. 19, 2019).
"Funding Legal Work at the Mexican-American Border," by Stephen Gottlieb (June 2, 2019).
"Fearing Trump's wall, Central Americans rush to cross the U.S. border," by Joshua Partlow and Nick Miroff (November 18, 2016).
On the detention of unaccompanied minors:
Flores v. Reno [later Meese, Johnson, Kelly, Sessions], Case No. 2:85-cv-4544-DMG (C.D. Cal.) (expert witness in litigation related to the detention of unaccompanied minors).
D.B. ex rel. R.M.B. v. Cardall, 826 F.3d 721 (4th Cir. 2016) (amicus curiae as represented by Kramer Levin in litigation related to the detention of unaccompanied minors).
"The government pays for migrant children's lawyers. Challenge the government, and they can lose their funding," by Patrick Michels for Reveal (November 14, 2018).
"Immigration and Human Rights-- What Mental Health Providers Need to Know About Working with Immigrant Children and Their Families-- Experiences from 4 NYC Perspectives," by the New York Council on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (March 16, 2017).
On local and broader community advocacy:
"Penalistas Estadounidenses Discuten Casos de Violencia Racial y Derechos Humano Con Sus Pares de la Academia," by the law school Universidad Academia de Humanismo Cristiano, Chile (July 14, 2020).
"Dept. of Homeland Security Says Smoking Pot Disqualifies Immigrants from Citizenship," by Jimi Devine for Cannabis Now (April 24, 2019).
"Criminal carve out in NYC funding creates serious impediments," by the New York Immigration Coalition (February 22, 2018).
"How an Army of Women Lawyers Formed to Protect Immigrants in the Trump Era," by Mattie Kahn for Elle (January 26, 2018).
"For Immigrant Parents, Reunification with Children Now Carries Risk of Smuggling Charges," by Beth Fertig for WNYC (July 7, 2017).
"Testimony submitted to NYC Human Resources Administration regarding IDNYC," by lorilei w. on behalf of Staten Island Legal Services (March 10, 2016).
On immigration detention in the deep south:
"What We Know About the Allegations of Forced Hysterectomies at an ICE Facility," by Tessa Stuart for Rolling Stone (September 18, 2020).
"Alleged unwanted hysterectomies and other abuses at ICE facility prompts investigation," by Rick Jervis, Alan Gomez, and Maria Clark for USA Today (September 18, 2020).
"Women at ICE facility in Georgia accused a doctor of performing unwanted hysterectomies on them. Lawyers say the problems run even deeper," by Haven Orecchio-Egresitz for Insider (September 18, 2020).
"Immigrant Detainees Stage Protest For More COVID-19 Protections: 'WE ARE NOT SAFE,'" by Seth Freed Wessler for Type Investigations (April 14, 2020).
"ICE reporta el primer inmigrante contagiado de coronavirus en un centro de detención," by Noticias Telemundo (March 24, 2020).
"What coronavirus means for tens of thousands of people in ICE custody," by Catherine E. Shoichet for CNN (March 19, 2020).
"'Powder Kegs': Calls grow for ICE to release immigrants to avoid coronavirus outbreak," by Camilo Montoya-Galvez for CBS News (March 19, 2020).
"Piden liberaciones de centros de ICE por la amenaza del coronavirus: 'Vamos a ver gente morir,'" by Damia Bonmati for Noticias Telemundo (March 13, 2020).
“An Antiracist Approach to Trauma-Informed Lawyering,” by lorilei w. for the Shriver Center on Poverty Law (June 29, 2021).
“Remarks for a White House Gender Policy Council Listening Session,” by lorilei w., published by the Shriver Center on Poverty Law (October 7, 2021).
“COVID Stories: Lorilei,” by Lorilei Williams, for the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research (February 28, 2022).
On border advocacy:
"At the Border and Beyond: Women Lawyers Defend Unprecedented Attacks on Asylum Law," by Hannah Hayes for the American Bar Association (Sept. 19, 2019).
"Funding Legal Work at the Mexican-American Border," by Stephen Gottlieb (June 2, 2019).
"Fearing Trump's wall, Central Americans rush to cross the U.S. border," by Joshua Partlow and Nick Miroff (November 18, 2016).
On the detention of unaccompanied minors:
Flores v. Reno [later Meese, Johnson, Kelly, Sessions], Case No. 2:85-cv-4544-DMG (C.D. Cal.) (expert witness in litigation related to the detention of unaccompanied minors).
D.B. ex rel. R.M.B. v. Cardall, 826 F.3d 721 (4th Cir. 2016) (amicus curiae as represented by Kramer Levin in litigation related to the detention of unaccompanied minors).
"The government pays for migrant children's lawyers. Challenge the government, and they can lose their funding," by Patrick Michels for Reveal (November 14, 2018).
"Immigration and Human Rights-- What Mental Health Providers Need to Know About Working with Immigrant Children and Their Families-- Experiences from 4 NYC Perspectives," by the New York Council on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (March 16, 2017).
On local and broader community advocacy:
"Penalistas Estadounidenses Discuten Casos de Violencia Racial y Derechos Humano Con Sus Pares de la Academia," by the law school Universidad Academia de Humanismo Cristiano, Chile (July 14, 2020).
"Dept. of Homeland Security Says Smoking Pot Disqualifies Immigrants from Citizenship," by Jimi Devine for Cannabis Now (April 24, 2019).
"Criminal carve out in NYC funding creates serious impediments," by the New York Immigration Coalition (February 22, 2018).
"How an Army of Women Lawyers Formed to Protect Immigrants in the Trump Era," by Mattie Kahn for Elle (January 26, 2018).
"For Immigrant Parents, Reunification with Children Now Carries Risk of Smuggling Charges," by Beth Fertig for WNYC (July 7, 2017).
"Testimony submitted to NYC Human Resources Administration regarding IDNYC," by lorilei w. on behalf of Staten Island Legal Services (March 10, 2016).
On immigration detention in the deep south:
"What We Know About the Allegations of Forced Hysterectomies at an ICE Facility," by Tessa Stuart for Rolling Stone (September 18, 2020).
"Alleged unwanted hysterectomies and other abuses at ICE facility prompts investigation," by Rick Jervis, Alan Gomez, and Maria Clark for USA Today (September 18, 2020).
"Women at ICE facility in Georgia accused a doctor of performing unwanted hysterectomies on them. Lawyers say the problems run even deeper," by Haven Orecchio-Egresitz for Insider (September 18, 2020).
"Immigrant Detainees Stage Protest For More COVID-19 Protections: 'WE ARE NOT SAFE,'" by Seth Freed Wessler for Type Investigations (April 14, 2020).
"ICE reporta el primer inmigrante contagiado de coronavirus en un centro de detención," by Noticias Telemundo (March 24, 2020).
"What coronavirus means for tens of thousands of people in ICE custody," by Catherine E. Shoichet for CNN (March 19, 2020).
"'Powder Kegs': Calls grow for ICE to release immigrants to avoid coronavirus outbreak," by Camilo Montoya-Galvez for CBS News (March 19, 2020).
"Piden liberaciones de centros de ICE por la amenaza del coronavirus: 'Vamos a ver gente morir,'" by Damia Bonmati for Noticias Telemundo (March 13, 2020).
Other Projects and Contributions
Online Judge's Benchbook for New York Family Court Judges, published by the Fund for Modern Courts. lorilei played a critical role as a researcher and contributing author to the project, a critical tool that can help New York family court judges identify opportunities to support victims and mitigate unintended family separation and unintended draconian immigration consequences.
The Facility, a documentary by Seth Freed Wessler on the detention of migrants at the Irwin County Detention Center during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. lorilei worked closely with Seth, Nilson, and other detainees through November 2020.
Cruel by Design, a report by the Immigrant Defense Project (IDP). lorilei worked closely with IDP by providing information and connecting them with Lorilei's former clients, Nilson and Joe.
The Facility, a documentary by Seth Freed Wessler on the detention of migrants at the Irwin County Detention Center during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. lorilei worked closely with Seth, Nilson, and other detainees through November 2020.
Cruel by Design, a report by the Immigrant Defense Project (IDP). lorilei worked closely with IDP by providing information and connecting them with Lorilei's former clients, Nilson and Joe.