Courses

    This course will examine international and domestic refugee law and policy. After looking at the nature of forced migration, the course focuses on the origins of modern refugee law, the institutional framework of refugee protection, and the history of U.S. refugee policy. Close attention will be paid to the definition of "refugee" in international conventions and under U.S. law, with emphasis on such topics as: what constitutes persecution? what forms of persecution support an asylum claim? what conduct renders an applicant ineligible for asylum? how are persons fleeing violence (rather than persecution) treated? We will also analyze overseas refugee processing, procedures for adjudicating asylum claims, rights of asylum seekers, detention and the granting of temporary protection to those fleeing civil wars. Special attention will also be given to issues involving asylum claims based on gender. Finally, we will examine the rights of internally displaced persons.

This is an exam course.