This event will be held in person and online.

The recent trend for governments to politicise refugee and immigration policy through the manipulation of public sentiment and policy decisions raises complex and contentious questions. It often involves tapping into existing fears and concerns about national security, cultural identity, economic competition and the capacity to provide services to new arrivals. It can also be used as a powerful tool during election campaigns - with politicians advocating for strict immigration policies or promising to limit refugee admissions as a way to appeal to a particular voter base. Elections in Australia, the United States, certain European countries and more recently Latin America are cases in point.

On the other hand, politicising these issues can have significant humanitarian implications. When governments prioritise political considerations over the protection of vulnerable individuals fleeing conflict, natural disasters or economic privation, the result can often be hardship and abuse. It also raises concerns about the commitment of those governments to International Human Rights norms and the rule of law. And it overshadows consideration of the economic contributions immigrants can make to their host countries by filling labour gaps and contributing to economic growth.

Join the Australian National Centre for Latin American Studies (ANCLAS) and a panel of experts from Australia, Chile and the United States in a discussion of the impact of politicising refugee and immigration policy globally and in Latin America, with particular focus on the cases of Australia and Chile.

This event will be held in person and online.

Moderators:

Noel Campbell (Director, Australian National Centre for Latin American Studies)

Eve Lester (Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow, College of Law, ANU)

Panelists:

• John Minns (Emeritus Professor, College of Arts and Social Sciences, ANU)
• Kate Ogg (Associate Professor, College of Law, ANU)
• Andrew Selee (President, Migration Policy Institute, Washington DC)
• Juan Pablo Ramaciotti (Executive Director, Centre for Migration Policy, Santiago)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• This event will be held in person and online. Registration is required.

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