By: Cheryl Zhang, USCRI Policy and Advocacy Intern (Summer 2026) In the weeks following the end of July 2026, the media has been flooded with pictures and videos of tens of thousands of migrants swimming from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, on the North African coast. However, the accompanying narratives of “invasion” are not only unfounded, but alarmist, harmful, and politically polarized. They are part of a broader effort to use [...]
By: USCRI Policy & Advocacy Intern (Summer 2026) Edited by William Evans, Policy Analyst In February 2026, when the U.S.-Iran War first broke out, military and geopolitical dimensions of the conflict immediately became the center of international attention. Public debate and discussion revolved around the issue of strategic considerations, stability, and possible escalation into wider [...]
By: Alexia Gardner, Policy Analyst Reader’s advisory: Some of the language and subject matter in this article may be difficult or distressing for some readers. “There is no life at night.” This is the perspective of Pierre Espérance, a leading Haitian human rights defender and the Executive Director of Réseau National de [...]
By: Victoria Walker It is August, and across the United States, “back-to-school" season has begun. New backpacks, fresh notebooks, and the anticipation of a new school year fill stores and classrooms. For millions of children around the world, returning to school is a familiar ritual. The chance to learn is something worth celebrating. But who gets left out of [...]
Back-to-school season is a time for fresh starts, new friendships, and opportunities to help students better understand the world around them. As classrooms become increasingly diverse, educators can foster empathy, curiosity, and a sense of belonging from the very first day of school. One way to do that is by introducing students to the experiences […]
Since the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the United States has built its anti-trafficking response around a core premise: survivors who come forward deserve protection, and the institutions they turn to must be capable of delivering it. For twenty-five years, the “three Ps” framework — prosecution, protection, and prevention — has organized federal efforts […]
By: Rachel Ryu, Staff Attorney, Humanitarian Legal Services Contributors’ words and views are their own. Commentary by the author should not be attributed to contributors. Some contributions were edited for length. Read the unabridged versions here. On July 28, 2026, the world marks the 75th Anniversary of the Refugee Convention. The 1951 Refugee Convention (“1951 Convention”) was one of the first international […]
Since January 2025, a wave of new policies has reshaped daily life for refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrant families across the country: the suspension of refugee resettlement, the possible return of "Remain in Mexico,” the end of humanitarian parole for thousands, temporary protected status at risk, and more. Each of these sounds like a policy headline, but in practice, these changes [...]
Last month, the Policy & Advocacy team launched Their Future, Their Voice: Centering Displaced Children in Global Protection and Policy. Developed in partnership with refugee-led and community-based organizations, the report brings together recommendations from child protection practitioners, refugee leaders, and analysts, calling for stronger protections for displaced children, greater investment in essential services, meaningful youth [...]
This Sunday, the 2026 FIFA World Cup comes to a close. Two teams will take the field for the final, and by the end of the night, one trophy will be handed out and the headlines will be turning to what's next. But beneath the scorelines, this tournament has told a story that's easy to miss in the excitement of the game itself: the [...]
