Archives for 2015

By: Teju Cole This stirring and thought-provoking reflection from writer and photographer Teju Cole sets today’s immigration crisis in a broader context, connecting the dots across the world and through history. By relating the story of philosopher and cultural critic Walter Benjamin’s attempted flight from Nazi-occupied France, Cole reminds us that migration, migrants and refugees have always been part of our collective history, and that what is happening in Europe and elsewhere is related …Read More

By: Roxane Ramos In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly established International Migrants Day, observed on December 18 each year, in recognition of the increasing number of migrants throughout the world and the risks they face. U.N. General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon summarized the intention behind the proclamation in a 2013 address to the General Assembly: “Migration is an expression of the human aspiration for dignity, safety and a better future. It is part of the social fabric, …Read More

By: Roxane Ramos Each immigrant story, though often initiated by similar yearnings, is unique, and there are no better narrators than those who live through the struggle. Here, we share two online projects and a blog post, and invite you to peruse them, learn from them, and find inspiration in them. The Immigrant Story Project at the University of Minnesota Immigration History Research Center documents the lives and dreams of those who have come to the U.S. from other lands and a …Read More

By: Roxane Ramos Even while we focus on the worldwide immigration crisis, the news from the U.S.–Mexico border and other links still seize our attention. Here are some of the headlines and highlights about the current immigration situation in the U.S. and beyond. From The Washington Post, the latest on the status of President Obama's executive order on …Read More