Faculty Talk Outside the Box: “Waiving Laws to Enforce Laws: The Case of U.S. Border Wall Construction.”

March 1st, 2023 | 4 p.m. Free and open to the public. This event is hybrid, it will be held in person in the Reese Center, Room 225, and on Zoom.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Shannon Donley at donley.82@odu.edu . At least two weeks' advance notice will help us to provide seamless access.

Professor Kenneth Madsen from the Department of Geography will give a Faculty Talk Outside the Box on “Waiving Laws to Enforce Laws: The Case of U.S. Border Wall Construction.” 

To expedite the construction of barriers along the border with Mexico, U.S. Secretaries of Homeland Security have waived an extensive array of laws since 2005 when authority for such actions was first delegated to that position as part of the REAL ID Act.  This presentation contextualizes the political origins of what is referred to as Section 102(c) waiver authority, shows how these waivers are used to dramatically expand border barrier construction, and reviews legal challenges.  In doing so, it connects the use of waivers in governance as viewed through the study of law with the theoretical prominence of states of exception in the discipline of geography.  By examining the specific ways in which these legal practices and their geographic expression have institutionalized a state of exception that pushes the boundary of legal acceptability, we arrive at a more transdisciplinary understanding of the role of states of exception as a tool of governance. 

During Faculty Talks Outside the Box, Ohio State Newark professors discuss recent research in their fields as it relates to our community and answer questions. 

The Ohio State University at Newark offers an academic environment that is inclusive of diversity, challenging but supportive with world-renowned professors and access to Ohio State’s more than 200 majors. It’s where learning comes to life. Research, study abroad and service learning opportunities prepare students for their careers in ways they never expected.

For more information visit newark.osu.edu 1179 University Drive Newark Ohio 43055