Justice Studies Association- Conference

CONFERENCE- THEME

JSA 2009 CONFERENCE THEME
“Immigration, Sanctuary,
Worlds Without Borders”

There are now 191 million immigrants worldwide according to the United Nations Population Fund. Some of these people chose to migrate for economic advancement, many were forced to leave their homes for economic survival. 67 million have been forceably displaced due to armed conflict, violence, and violations of human rights as well as natural and human disasters.

Forced displacement can also be measured in terms of undocumented immigrants. In the United States alone it is estimated there are 12 million “unauthorized migrants” living within its borders. The uncertain legal status of these and displaced persons everywhere has forced additional misery upon them and their families as they are commoditized for purposes of low-wage jobs, slavery and prostitution, and other forms of gory gain. Without the protection of law and communities of human support, many of these individuals are readily subject to starvation, rape, beatings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and racist attacks often resulting in death.

In the midst of this misery and suffering, Non-Governmental Organizations, religious congregations, scholars, advocacy groups, and activists work untiringly. Many have opened their arms, their homes, their places of worship in bold statements of hospitality and sanctuary.

The New Sanctuary Movement is one model of concerned individuals offering hospitality and protection to those in need against hate, workplace discrimination, harassment by the authorities, unjust deportation, and forced displacement. By offering sanctuary, communities are meeting the needs of human beings regardless of their status as defined by law, the state, and market values.

Because the creation of refugees, displaced persons, and immigration populations generally can be traced to structurally violent political and economic conditions, scholars and activists of immigration and social justice have sought to combine their intervention efforts with conceptions of worlds without borders, worlds in which the needs of all are taken into account, and ultimately met. (For presentation ideas, see link to Suggested Topics For Presentation.)

2009 Conference Program Chairs

Daniel Okada
California State University Sacramento
E-mail: dokada@csus.edu

Dennis Sullivan
Independent Scholar
E-mail: dsullivan6@nycap.rr.com

2009 Eleventh ANNUAL JSA CONFERENCE

Immigration, Sanctuary, Worlds Without Borders
May 27-30, 2009
Albany, New York

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