Critics of post-colonial global migration policies argue that today’s accelerating pace of migration from such regions as Africa, the Middle East, and South/Central America is grounded in a long history of racism, xenophobia, and economic exploitation. Ironically, many migrants are being forced to leave their formerly colonized countries and seek a better life in the very countries that created the circumstances from which they are fleeing. This panel will explore the root causes and trappings of human displacement that continue to impact both previously colonized countries and their migrating populations.

Climate change is anticipated to displace between 20 million and 1 billion people by 2050. The widely differing projections reflect the complex social, economic, and environmental causes of migration and the fact that climate change generally intensifies pre-existing drivers of migration, including poverty and conflict. Climate change is an injustice rather than a misfortune because it is caused by the greenhouse gas emissions of the world’s most affluent populations but imposes its deadliest consequences on those who contributed least to the problem and have the fewest resources to protect themselves from harm, including Indigenous peoples, the small-island states, children, people living in poverty, racial and ethnic minorities, and low-income agriculture-dependent nations. This panel will explore and critique the emerging legal frameworks to address climate displacement.

Modern-day international and domestic anti-trafficking laws originate from the anti-slavery movement, including laws banning chattel slavery and involuntary servitude. Yet, people across the globe continue to suffer from contemporary forms of compelled labor and services, now known as labor and sex trafficking. These crimes assault the dignity of personhood: body, mind, and spirit. People who are displaced or “on the move” are especially vulnerable to these horrific crimes. This panel will situate human trafficking within the context of modern-day economies built on legalized and racialized violence and exploitation of human beings. The panel will discuss current research at the intersection of migration and human trafficking, feature the strength and resilience of human trafficking survivors and those accompanying them on their path to healing, and provide concrete recommendations to end human trafficking, including, in the words of Pope Francis, creating “courageous economies.” 

In 2020, 36 million children were international migrants. Of the world’s nearly 34 million refugees and asylum seekers who have been forcibly displaced from their own countries, half of them are children. Moreover, half of the world’s child migrants live in just 15 countries, led by the United States, which is home to 3.3 million child migrants. These children are disproportionately impacted by the drivers of the global migration crisis due to their inherently vulnerable developmental status and lack of political empowerment. This panel will review anti-migrant children and families abuses and focus on alternative approaches grounded in human rights laws.

Once migrants arrive either permanently or temporarily in a host country, their journey is far from over. Too often migrants arrive without basic human needs such as food, housing, health care, and access to education. Migrants who find themselves in this situation are vulnerable to a range of exploitive circumstances and typically lack knowledge of their legal rights. This panel will describe work being done by entities committed to supporting new arrivals, including service organizations and pro bono entities.    

This panel will explore opportunities to strengthen domestic and regional migration policies as a counterweight to the anti-immigration bias that undermines opportunities for human flourishing. As part of this discussion, the panel will identify ways in which “Global North” governments have intentionally misapplied rule of law principles to violate migrants’ human rights and suggest opportunities for more productive approaches that align with core rule of law values.

Location: Pontifical Gregorian University, Piazza della Pilotta 4, Room Aula Magna Gregoriana

8:30 am
Coffee Service

9:00 am
Welcome

• Dean Michèle Alexandre

Introduction and Opening Remarks

• Mark C. Reed, President, Loyola University Chicago
• Rev. Arturo Sosa, S.J., Superior General of the Society of Jesus

9:45 am
Featured Speaker: Professor Jaya Ramji-Nogales

10:30 am 
Break

Panel 1: The Origins of the Migration Crisis 
10:45 am–12:00 pm 
Moderator: Professor James Gathii
Panelist: Professor Hardeep Dhillon
Panelist: Professor Obiora Okafor

Panel 2: Climate and Its Growing Impact on Human Dislocation
12:00–1:15 pm 
Moderator: Professor Carmen Gonzalez
Panelist: Professor Sumudu Atapattu
Panelist: Professor Simon Behrman

Luncheon
1:15–2:00 pm

2:00 pm
Welcome: P. Ulrich Rhode, SJ, Dean, Faculty of Canon Law, Gregorian University, Rome

Panel 3: An Unholy Alliance: The Intersection Between Human Trafficking and Migration 
2:15–3:30 pm 
Moderator: Professor Katherine Kaufka Walts
Panelist: Professor Silvia Scarpa
Panelist: Talitha Kum 
Panelist: Professor Emilce Cuda (invited)

3:30 pm
Break

Panel 4: Suffer the Children: The Disproportionate Impact of Migration Policies on Children and Young People
3:45–5:00 pm 
Moderator: Professor Sarah Diaz
Panelist: Angela Vigil

Cocktail Reception and PROLAW Showcase
5:00–6:00 pm

8:30 am        
Coffee Service

9:15–9:45 am        
Featured Speaker: Professor Emilce Cuda

Panel 5: Responding to the Human Displacement Crisis
9:45 am–11:00 am
Moderator: Professor Ruth Gomberg
Panelist: Dr. Angelo Pittaluga
Panelist:   Professor Joseph Saba

Break: 11:00 am–11:15 am 

Panel 6: The Future of Global Migration
11:15 am–12:30 pm
Moderator: Professor Juliet Sorensen
Panelist: Professor Hajer Gueldich 
Panelist: Alexandra Tarzikhan
Panelist: Halyna Kokhan

12:30 pm
Reflections and Closing Remarks

• Dean Michèle Alexandre