Forced Migration Laboratory
In
December 2002, the Forced Migration Laboratory at the Center
for Comparative Immigration Studies was launched in order to
address the relative lack of working partnerships and dialogue
between San Diego’s refugee resettlement agencies, community-based
assistance organizations, and academics. Although San Diego
has existed as a major refugee resettlement region for over
25 years, relevant organizations and other stakeholders have
operated mainly on their own initiative because of an absence
of a forum in which they can communicate with one another, share
information, and develop new assistance strategies.
The
Forced Migration Laboratory brings together academic specialists
on refugee movements, leaders of non-governmental and community-based
organizations that serve refugee communities, and public policymakers
to evaluate refugee resettlement programs and practices, focusing
particularly on the San Diego region. The target
populations are persons who have fled from wars, political
turmoil, and ethno-political persecution in Africa, Southeast
Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Presently, over 100,000
reside in San Diego. The ultimate aim is to promote the smooth
resettlement and eventual economic and social self-sufficiency
and integration of refugees through effective community-based
programs and services.
Mission
The mission of the Forced Migration Laboratory is to:
- Research and advocate for community-based solutions to
resettlement in San Diego and beyond.
- Promote the importance of both social and economic assimilation
as equal factors in the success of resettlement.
- Encourage the creation of partnerships between resettlement
agencies, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders
in order to coordinate resources and improve resettlement
services.
Interim Director’s
Annual Report, 2004
Roundtables and Events
The
primary initiative of the Forced Migration Laboratory is a structured
series of Roundtables on Best Practices in Refugee Resettlement.
Information on best practices identified through the roundtables
is disseminated using a network of local, national, and international
refugee organizations, as well as the FML’s Community
Advisory Board. This initiative is an official Working Group
on Refugee Resettlement of the International
Association for the Study of Forced Migration (IASFM). Click
here
to view a list of past participating organizations and institutions.
The FML also occasionally hosts special events and panels concerning
forced migration within and outside the San Diego region, which
feature local and internationally recognized experts.
For information on location and time of currently scheduled
roundtables and events, see Research Seminars.
Panel Discussion (February 15, 2005): Forced Migration
and Human Rights in San Diego: What the Public Needs to Know
This panel brings together academics and activists to discuss
whether current "homeland security" measures and
the rise in immigrant deportations and detentions might be
considered a form of forced migration.
Seminar Presentation (February 3, 2005): Realizing
Human Rights for Refugees
This seminar focuses upon the issues of warehousing refugees
and features Lavinia Limon, Executive Director, Immigrant
and Refugee Services of America and the U.S. Committee for
Refugees.
Conference Panel Presentation (January 11, 2005):
“Strengthening Urban Refugee Resettlement: Lessons in
Community-based Approaches from San Diego, California”
This panel, part of the 9th International Association for
the Study of Forced Migration (IASFM) Conference in São
Paulo, Brazil, featured research paper presentations by Forced
Migration Laboratory staff.
Panel Discussion (October 13, 2004): Addressing the
Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur--Raising San Diego’s Voices
Panelists provided an assessment of the current humanitarian
crisis in Darfur, Sudan and attempts by the local and international
community to address the crisis and assist refugees (download
agenda and
report).
Third Roundtable (September 21, 2004): Women, Asylum,
and Domestic Violence in San Diego--Improving Access, Strengthening
Protection
This roundtable created a support structure for women asylees
who have experienced domestic violence and educated legal
and health-care practitioners about their special needs (download
agenda
and report).
Second Roundtable (January 20, 2004): Creating New
Partnerships--Preparing for the Bantu Refugee Resettlement
in San Diego
Participants discussed how local NGOs should respond to the
immediate needs of Bantu Somali refugees en route to San Diego
from Kakuma Camp, Kenya (download agenda).
First Roundtable (June 21, 2003): Best Practices
in Refugee Resettlement
Participants focused on the needs of refugees in San Diego
and created a network of practitioners and other stakeholders
interested in providing additional assistance to refugee communities
(download report).
Conference (December 3, 2002): Forced Migration,
Global Security, and Humanitarian Assistance (Inaugural Event)
Scholars and non-academic professionals working with refugees
addressed current themes in forced migration through a combination
of theoretical and practical approaches. Topics included:
the causes of refugee flows, their impact on receiving countries,
implications for international security, and humanitarian
responses (download agenda
and view
conference video).
Click here
for a list of past speakers.
Contemporary Topics in Forced Migration Working Paper Series
This working paper series
offers outstanding university undergraduate students studying
forced migration and refugees an opportunity to publish their
work. Click here
to view the submission requirements.
Research
The Forced Migration Laboratory intends to considerably expand
its research capabilities in the future. At present, FML staff
members are engaged in a variety of different independent
research projects. In the future, research staff will collect
primary data on local refugee resettlement agencies and NGO
service providers as well as San Diego’s increasingly
expanding and diverse refugee communities. This data will be
used to assess local refugee resettlement and assistance programs
and their long-term impact and effectiveness in promoting the
socioeconomic self-sufficiency and civic integration of immigrants.
The project will eventually expand by collecting data in other
U.S. cities with refugees. It will identify programs and outcomes
while assessing similarities and differences across regions
in the context of national refugee resettlement policies and
government agencies. Research results will be actively disseminated
to local and national practitioners and NGOs through roundtable
presentations and discussions, conferences, and policy briefs.
Staff
Nathaniel H. Goetz, Interim
Director
Tel. #: (858) 822-4449
Andrew H. Chen,
Research Assistant
Visiting Fellows and Guest Scholars
Stephanie Nawyn, Visiting
Research Fellow (Spring 2005)
Ph.D. Candidate, University of Southern California
Lisa Messenzehl,
Guest Scholar (Fall 2004)
M.A. Candidate, University of Augsburg, Germany
