Immigration in the EU and the US: Comparing Border Policies

What are the differences and similarities in the policies implemented in the EU and the US? What is their impact on the fundamental rights of migrants and refugees? In both contexts, what relative weight is given to the rights of migrants and refugees on the one hand, and to border enforcement measures on the other? Finally, what long-term consequences will the covid-19 crisis have on border policies in both cases?

The Webinar aims at offering a comparative perspective on border enforcement and immigration policies on both side of the Atlantic. It will bring together a wide range of European and US-based stakeholders: academics and experts, representatives of NGOs, members of institutions and policymakers. The webinar will be organized in two parts, with pre-recorded interviews and live presentations followed by a Q&A session.

The Border Between the US and Mexico: The Making of a Migration Crisis? Interviews (in English) with:

-        Clara Long, Senior Researcher, US Program, Human Rights Watch

-        Tom K Wong, Associate Professor and Director, U.S. Immigration Policy Center, University of California San Diego

-        Veronica Ortiz Ortega, General Director, Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales (COMEXI)

Discussion and Q&A session Live (in French) with:

-        Vincent Cochetel, Special Envoy for the Mediterranean Situation, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

-        Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, European Parliament

Registered participants will receive the access codes a few hours prior to the debate.