Sandwiched between a call for an assault rifle ban and pledge to support congressional abortion l... more Sandwiched between a call for an assault rifle ban and pledge to support congressional abortion legislation, Biden focused just seven sentences on immigration reform, but that little bit says a lot on how he sees the border and what he thinks he can accomplish across the aisle. By Leah Durst-Lee and Kristen Allen
The IOM once predicted that the “future of migration is mixed”, meaning that more and more of the... more The IOM once predicted that the “future of migration is mixed”, meaning that more and more of the people migrating would move along the same migratory routes, but for different reasons (ex: refugee, worker, asylum seeker, family member, etc). Mixed migration is already happening, and so far our immigration systems are not handling it well. This article explains how State responses to mixed migration movements often endanger asylum seekers and how policy makers can fix it.
Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that claimed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, has done little t... more Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that claimed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, has done little to stop the spread, but much to deny asylum seekers their rights to seek asylum and non-return to danger. It was with much celebration, then, when a federal judge blocked the policy on November 15, 2022. However, while Title 42 was due to expire on December 21, 2022, ultimately it was extended only days before its termination.
What’s in a name? For refugees and asylum seekers, it’s their human rights protections and the in... more What’s in a name? For refugees and asylum seekers, it’s their human rights protections and the international community’s obligation to uphold those rights. This article explains the difference between migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker under international law, and why it matters that we get them right.
When President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act on December 13, 2022, the right to marri... more When President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act on December 13, 2022, the right to marriage was finally written into law for interracial and LGBT marriages. With racism and xenophobia on the rise, this is a huge step to solidify the right to marriage in congressional legislation, not just court precedent.
"History was made", the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention... more "History was made", the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) celebrated as the conference concluded on 18 November with a hopeful loss and damage fund for developed countries to pay developing countries, who are "the most vulnerable to climate disasters, yet who have contributed little to the climate crisis". The fund is a result of strong advocacy by developing countries to receive compensation by developed countries and is definitely cause for celebration-but with climate-related displacement not on the COP27 agenda, there is concern over how much of the loss and damage fund will support climate-displaced people.
The United States has signed international treaties to uphold the rights of asylum seekers to see... more The United States has signed international treaties to uphold the rights of asylum seekers to seek asylum and to not be returned to a country where they face threat to life or liberty. But policies like 'Remain in Mexico' and Title 42 are in direct violation of these treaties. This article uses a human rights based approach to analyze this conflict and offer recommendations to rectify human rights violations by the U.S.
Automated immigration decision systems have increasingly been used around the world despite serio... more Automated immigration decision systems have increasingly been used around the world despite serious concerns of human rights violations. Two such countries, the United States and Canada, have employed these systems to facilitate faster immigration claim determinations and assist with management and administrative tasks at the border, but ethical and human rights concerns arise as States replace human beings in decision-making processes. This policy brief will identify the context of the use of automated decision systems in State immigration systems, the rights holders and duty bearers, the human rights legal framework, and finally best practice recommendations.
Published article on the website of Africa is a Country (AIAC), on the work of the SLAFMIG projec... more Published article on the website of Africa is a Country (AIAC), on the work of the SLAFMIG project and the difficulties of eradicating descent-bases slavery in Mali (Kayes region). Link to the online article: https://africasacountry.com/2021/03/the-fight-against-descent-based-slavery-in-mali (see also added below)
Sandwiched between a call for an assault rifle ban and pledge to support congressional abortion l... more Sandwiched between a call for an assault rifle ban and pledge to support congressional abortion legislation, Biden focused just seven sentences on immigration reform, but that little bit says a lot on how he sees the border and what he thinks he can accomplish across the aisle. By Leah Durst-Lee and Kristen Allen
The IOM once predicted that the “future of migration is mixed”, meaning that more and more of the... more The IOM once predicted that the “future of migration is mixed”, meaning that more and more of the people migrating would move along the same migratory routes, but for different reasons (ex: refugee, worker, asylum seeker, family member, etc). Mixed migration is already happening, and so far our immigration systems are not handling it well. This article explains how State responses to mixed migration movements often endanger asylum seekers and how policy makers can fix it.
Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that claimed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, has done little t... more Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that claimed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, has done little to stop the spread, but much to deny asylum seekers their rights to seek asylum and non-return to danger. It was with much celebration, then, when a federal judge blocked the policy on November 15, 2022. However, while Title 42 was due to expire on December 21, 2022, ultimately it was extended only days before its termination.
What’s in a name? For refugees and asylum seekers, it’s their human rights protections and the in... more What’s in a name? For refugees and asylum seekers, it’s their human rights protections and the international community’s obligation to uphold those rights. This article explains the difference between migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker under international law, and why it matters that we get them right.
When President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act on December 13, 2022, the right to marri... more When President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act on December 13, 2022, the right to marriage was finally written into law for interracial and LGBT marriages. With racism and xenophobia on the rise, this is a huge step to solidify the right to marriage in congressional legislation, not just court precedent.
"History was made", the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention... more "History was made", the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) celebrated as the conference concluded on 18 November with a hopeful loss and damage fund for developed countries to pay developing countries, who are "the most vulnerable to climate disasters, yet who have contributed little to the climate crisis". The fund is a result of strong advocacy by developing countries to receive compensation by developed countries and is definitely cause for celebration-but with climate-related displacement not on the COP27 agenda, there is concern over how much of the loss and damage fund will support climate-displaced people.
The United States has signed international treaties to uphold the rights of asylum seekers to see... more The United States has signed international treaties to uphold the rights of asylum seekers to seek asylum and to not be returned to a country where they face threat to life or liberty. But policies like 'Remain in Mexico' and Title 42 are in direct violation of these treaties. This article uses a human rights based approach to analyze this conflict and offer recommendations to rectify human rights violations by the U.S.
Automated immigration decision systems have increasingly been used around the world despite serio... more Automated immigration decision systems have increasingly been used around the world despite serious concerns of human rights violations. Two such countries, the United States and Canada, have employed these systems to facilitate faster immigration claim determinations and assist with management and administrative tasks at the border, but ethical and human rights concerns arise as States replace human beings in decision-making processes. This policy brief will identify the context of the use of automated decision systems in State immigration systems, the rights holders and duty bearers, the human rights legal framework, and finally best practice recommendations.
Published article on the website of Africa is a Country (AIAC), on the work of the SLAFMIG projec... more Published article on the website of Africa is a Country (AIAC), on the work of the SLAFMIG project and the difficulties of eradicating descent-bases slavery in Mali (Kayes region). Link to the online article: https://africasacountry.com/2021/03/the-fight-against-descent-based-slavery-in-mali (see also added below)
Uploads
Papers by Leah Durst-Lee
Link to the online article: https://africasacountry.com/2021/03/the-fight-against-descent-based-slavery-in-mali (see also added below)
read online here:
https://theconversation.com/mali-fails-to-face-up-to-the-persistence-of-slavery-147636
Link to the online article: https://africasacountry.com/2021/03/the-fight-against-descent-based-slavery-in-mali (see also added below)
read online here:
https://theconversation.com/mali-fails-to-face-up-to-the-persistence-of-slavery-147636