DePaul Migration Collaborative’s First Immigration Summit: Strategies for a Migrant Plant. Pictured: (back row) C. Tirres, C. Mousin, D. Kerwin (Center for Migration Studies), H. Prager (UCLA School of Law), S. Albiol, K. Arnold. (front row) A. Tirres, E. Lee (University of Minnesota), S. Sharma, R. Álvarez Silva.
About Us
The DePaul Migration Collaborative engages scholars, practitioners, students and alumni to find solutions to society’s most pressing problems in the areas of migration, mobility and human rights. The Collaborative leverages the power of interdisciplinary scholarly collaboration to pursue dynamic, community-engaged projects, advocacy and research, while establishing innovative learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students who will become the field’s next generation of leaders and problem-solvers.
These efforts will allow the Collaborative to advocate for and contribute to better public policy, stronger communities and a more just society.
Advocating for Justice, Educating for the Future
DePaul University is well-positioned to expand its leadership in the areas of migration, mobility and human rights, given its already well-established prominence in the fields of immigration and human rights. The DePaul Migration Collaborative formally unites these existing areas of excellence, providing a new foundation for creating innovative learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, while leveraging the power of interdisciplinary scholarly collaboration to pursue dynamic, community-engaged projects, advocacy and research.
Faculty from diverse areas that include law, psychology, social work, conflict resolution, Latin American and Latino studies, religious studies, public health and communication currently teach and work on issues central to migration and mobility. In 1996, the College of Law founded its nationally recognized Asylum & Immigration Law Clinic that partners with community organizations and practitioners to provide high-quality legal representation to immigrants and refugees. In 2015, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences launched the first graduate program in Refugee & Forced Migration Studies in the United States and is now an internationally recognized leader in the field.
The DePaul Migration Collaborative is a joint initiative between the College of Law and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It bridges the fields of law, public health, humanities and the social sciences. It expands and deepens DePaul’s legacy as an immigrant-serving institution and fulfills a core Vincentian value of working together with others for systemic change.
Our History
The DePaul Migration Collaborative (DMC), born from DePaul University’s commitment to immigrant communities, originated in 1996 with the founding of the Asylum & Immigration Law Clinic. In 2015, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences introduced the first U.S. graduate program in Refugee & Forced Migration Studies. The DMC, a joint venture of the College of Law and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, embodies DePaul’s dedication to interdisciplinary research and advocacy in migration and human rights, seeking systemic change through education and collective action, reinforcing DePaul’s legacy as an immigrant-serving institution
Our Impact
The DePaul Migration Collaborative (DMC) has made a notable impact in the field of migration studies. A total of 106 DePaul faculty members have shown interest or actively participated in migration-related endeavors. The Migration and Asylum Survey (MAS) indicates that 37 of these faculty members have incorporated migration issues into their courses. In addition, 35 DePaul alumni are actively participating or involved with the DePaul Migration and Asylum (DMA) initiatives. This engagement reflects a growing and vibrant community dedicated to the exploration, teaching, and active response to migration challenges.
Projects
DePaul Migration Advocates
The DePaul Migration Advocates, a collaboration between the Colleges of Law (CoL) and Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS), highlights DePaul’s legacy as an immigrant-serving institution through the work and impact of its alumni in migration, immigration, and human rights. Their contributions are showcased on DePaul’s website and other platforms
Community Capacity Project
The DMC’s Community Capacity Inventory, an interdisciplinary project from March to December 2022, assessed Chicago community organizations’ assets and needs. Led by Prof. Chris Tirres, Dr. Olya Glantsman, and graduate students, they engaged with 18 organizations, culminating in a report outlining potential collaboration areas including mental health support, student involvement, collaborative space, and addressing language and legal needs.
Solutions Lab
The DMC Solutions lab is an ongoing project run by the DMC. The Solutions Lab supports interdisciplinary, community-engaged research projects aimed at directly addressing key challenges facing migrants in the United States and across the world. Successful projects will address critical areas of need as collaboratively identified by the scholars and community partner(s) on the project. The funding runs from June 15, 2023-June 15, 2024, though individual project timelines may vary.
Reframing Refugees Project
In response to recent global policies limiting refugee and asylum-seeker protection, the Collaborative aims to influence policies by creating migrant support models aligned with international human rights standards. The objective is a nationally replicable model addressing migration realities, detailing asylum pursuit strategies, and fostering NGO engagement in individual case advocacy.
Contact Us
If you would like to learn more about the DePaul Migration Collaborative, or if you are involved in the areas of migration, mobility and human rights and are interested in partnering with us. (Kindly solve the addition problem to complete the CAPTCHA verification)
