We are pleased to invite you to join us for Making asylum: life in a suspended state, a discussion of evidence from a study of asylum reception in Denmark and Sweden.  The event will take place March 21.

The topic

Arrangements for how to manage asylum-seekers — in the state, but not yet of the state — are under reconsideration across the Western world. This reconsideration is taking place in the context of pressures arising from the arrival of individuals fleeing persecution, conflict, and violence, with millions making their way to Western Europe in hopes of receiving refuge. The complexity of adjudication, appeals, and difficulties repatriating those with rejected claims has made asylum management a long-term project with profound social and political implications as asylum-seekers live in limbo, not just for months, but for years.

At this event, the project team will present initial findings from an on-going, multi-year research project that takes a deep dive into on-the-ground efforts to manage asylum in Sweden and Denmark.  Practitioners from both countries will participate in discussion sessions with members of the project team, and attendees will be invited to join the conversation in Q&A sessions.

Program

1. Welcome. Karen N. Breidahl

2.  Making asylum at the front lines: Challenges for center operators, NGOs, and staff

Managing asylum in everyday organizational life. Evelyn Z.  Brodkin

The special case of services for unaccompanied minors: Insights from Sweden.  Staffan Höjer

*Open Q & A*

Break

 3. Challenges of life in limbo: How asylum-seekers adapt, negotiate, and manage life while waiting. Karen N. Breidahl

*Open Q & A*

4. Discussion session

Making asylum at the front lines & challenges of life in limbo: A conversation with practitioners doing asylum work on the ground.

Break

5. What's next? Issues for policy and practice.  Evelyn Z. Brodkin

6.  Discussion session

What's next ... and what's possible: A conversation with state officials and asylum center operators.

*Open Q & A*

6.  Wrapping up. Karen N. Breidahl

Additional Information

• On the project: https://voices.uchicago.edu/stateatthestreet
• Tweet: #making asylum2024
• Upcoming special issue, Spring 2024:
  
  The Global Challenge of Mass Migration and Asylum: Comparative Analysis of Street-Level Organizations at the Front Lines, Eds. Karen N. Breidahl, Evelyn Z. Brodkin, & Jonathan Miaz.  Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis, v.26, issue 1, 2024.

Coffee/tea and light refreshments will be served.