Refugees & Immigration
Migration is deeply intertwined with every era of United States’ history. In light of the threat that immigrants face under the new administration and the continued refugee crisis around the world, now is a critical time to examine what we can do to alleviate the effects of new policies and ensure that people feel safe and welcomed in this country. Swarthmore declared itself a sanctuary campus in 2016, but there is still much work to be done. Through collective efforts, we can tackle the different facets of migration that make it challenging, and often impossible, for immigrants and refugees to adapt to their new lives.
Engaged Scholarship Examples
- "Educational Studies Project Explores Undocumented and DACA Student Experience," by Ryan Dougherty (2018)
The research seminar Latinos and Education (EDUC 153), taught by Education Studies Professor Elaine Allard, produced a short film titled Sanctuary in Practice about the experience of undocumented and DACA students and allies in the Swarthmore community. The film, which is based on interviews and original research, was shown at the Search of Sanctuary symposium in May 2018. - Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary (2017-2019)
The Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary project combines works of art and the experiences of Syrian and Iraqi individuals who have resettled in Philadelphia. - Olivia Robbins '21 and Immigration Law Lab Internship
Olivia Robbins ‘21 was a virtual communications intern for the nonprofit Innovation Law Lab during the summer of 2020. She was motivated to learn more about immigration activism after taking Civil Wars and Neoliberal Peace (PEAC 038) with Spanish Professor Nanci Buiza and conducting research about conditions in detention facilities on the US-Mexico border for the class. Her work this past summer included sharing important information about COVID-19 and immigration on social media, writing about funds for undocumented workers, and hearing stories about abuses in detention facilities.
Connect
Lang Center Associates
Jone Bagdanskyte ‘25 |
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Sign up for an appointment with them on the LCA appointment calendar.
Key Faculty and Staff
- Elaine Allard, Assistant Professor of Educational Studies
- Osman Balkan, Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science
- Nanci Buiza, Assistant Professor of Spanish
- Karen Henry '87, Dean of First Year Students
- Bakirathi Mani, Associate Professor of English Literature
- Jennifer Marks-Gold, Director of International Student Center
- Edwin Mayorga, Assistant Professor of Educational Studies
- Sangina Patnaik, Associate Professor of English Literature
Student Groups and Resources
- War News Radio | Contact: Martin Tomlinson '23
- Students for Justice for Palestine | Contact: swarthmoresjp@gmail.com
- Resources for DACA/Undocumented Students
Learn
Swarthmore Courses
- SOCI 025C. Globalization
- SOCI 035D. Transnational Migration
- SOCI 035E. Immigration, Race, and the Law
- POLS 031. Borders and Migration
- HIST 065. Cities of (Im)migrants: Buenos Aires, Lima, Philadelphia, and New York
- EDUC 152. Immigration and Education
- PSYC 137. Seminar in Multicultural Psychology: Immigrant Adjustment
- SPAN 087. Cruzando fronteras: migración y neoliberalismo en el cine mexicano
Act
Off-Campus Opportunities
- Juntos
- Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians
- Nationalities Service Center
- PICC
- HIAS & HIAS-PA
- Paper Airplanes
- Puentes de Salud
- Puentes Hacia el Futuro
- New Sanctuary Movement
- Catholic Charities Chester
- Friends of Farmworkers
- African Family Health Organization
- Justice at Work
- Esperanza
- Catholic Social Services Philadelphia
- Equal Access Legal Services
- African Cultural Alliance of North Africa
- Multicultural Community Family Services
- KITHS
- SEAMAAC
- Intercultural Family Services
- Children's Advocacy Project of PA
- Congresso de Latinos Unidos
- Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation
- Irish Immigration Center
- Coalition of African and Caribbean Communities
- Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, El Paso, Texas
- Immigration Law Lab, Portland, Oregon
- Capital Area Immigrants' Rights (CAIR) Coalition, Washington, D.C.
- International Rescue Committee
- Refugee One, Chicago, Illinois
- CWS Lancaster
Grants