Critical Migration Studies Conference
Contact: Sofia Trevisani, Graduate Assistant, smtrevisani@dons.usfca.edu
May 5, 2026
For immediate release
Master in Migration Studies at USF Celebrates 10 years with Critical Migration Solidarity Conference
Faculty, students, community leaders and international scholars center the resilience of the human experience and share their hope into the next decade
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- On Saturday, April 18, 2025, the Masters in Migration Studies program at the University of San Francisco celebrated its 10th anniversary by hosting the Solidarity Conference bringing faculty, students, community leaders, and international scholars. The conference shared learnings from the past decade and shared hopes for the next decade especially in light of current global events.
The conference featured several panels covering critical topics, including asylum, advocacy, and the implications of recent events such as the federal occupation of Minneapolis and what it means for the future immigrants in the U.S. The event provided a valuable opportunity for students and the public to engage with experts in the field, gain a better understanding of the movement of resistance in recent years, and discuss how to find hope and direction during these turbulent times.
Dr. Kristina Lovato, an Assistant Professor of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley, where she also serves as Director of the Center on Immigration and Child Welfare Initiative (CICW), shared ahead of the conference, "I am honored to participate in the USFCA Master’s in Migration Studies Program’s Critical Migration Studies Conference this Saturday. I look forward to joining the Rethinking Migration Studies plenary, where I will share findings from my research on how unaccompanied immigrant transitional-age youth navigate the transition to adulthood while resettling in communities across California. This work highlights key themes of economic precarity, educational navigation, and the search for belonging during a time of heightened immigration enforcement. I am especially grateful to be in conversation with scholars whose work continues to shape and advance critical migration studies."
Robert Irwin, founding member and Deputy Director of UC Davis's Global Migration Center shared ahead of the conference, ““Given that migration has become a major political flashpoint in the US, it's important for everyone to understand the dynamics of migration and the repercussions of migration laws and policies from the perspectives of migrants themselves. That's why we offer vulnerable individuals such as asylum seekers and deported migrants the opportunity to tell their stories. We invite everyone to explore our website and view some of the hundreds of digital stories (testimonial audiovisual shorts) that we've published over the last 10 years”. Robert Irwin is a specialist in border and migration studies, Mexican and Mexican American cultural studies, and gender and sexuality studies. He conducted a lecture during the conference as part of the Davies Forum.,
The Master in Migration Studies (MiMS) program is an incredible opportunity for students passionate about migration to learn from experts in the field about the countless ways to advocate for marginalized communities. Students in the MiMS program advocate for migration in many forms, such as climate migration, understanding conflicts that lead to displacement around the world, and even right here in the United States. The program is in its 10th cohort, welcoming its 11th this fall.
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The Solidary Conference was made possible by, and not limited to: [USF programs such as the Lane Center for Catholic Social Thought, MCCarthy Center for Public Service & the Common Good, Politics, Global Studies, Critical Diversity Studies, Jewish Studies & Social Thought, Latin American & Latiné Studies, Asian Studies, Performing Arts & Social Justice, Sociology/Anthropology, History, Migration Studies Solidarity Network, and organizations such as Refugee & Immigrant Transitions, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, African Immigrant Health Research Collaborative, California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, Hand in Hand, The Women’s Building, Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, Mujeres Unidas y Activas, CARECEN SF, Haiti Action Committee, Priority Africa Network, African Advocacy Network, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, and Oasis Legal Services ]"