Immigration and Citizenship Law

In a commentary in the Globe and Mail, International Human Rights Program director Samer Muscati and Prof. Audrey Macklin analyze the case of Somalia-born but Canada-raised Abdoul Abdi, arguing that Canada should not deport him just because child-protection services never applied for citizenship for him while he spent his childhood under their care ("Abdoul Abdi case: A test of Canada’s commitment to rules and compassion," January 16, 2018).

In a commentary in the Ottawa Citizen, International Human Rights Program director Samer Muscati and research associate Petra Molnar argue that refugees in Ontario should benefit from the exemption to the driving-test waiting period available to other newcomers in Ontario, and to refugees in other provinces ("Ontario should revise discriminatory driving policy against refugees," December 11, 2017).

Allow experienced drivers from war-torn countries to skip driving-test waiting period similar to other newcomers in Ontario

By Lucianna Ciccocioppo / Photo by Sarah Coyle

Professor Audrey Macklin, Chair in Human Rights Law, is one of five scholars in Canada to receive a 2017 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Fellowship, in recognition of her outstanding scholarship and probono work advocating for immigrant and refugee rights.

In a commentary in the Ottawa Citizen, International Human Rights Program (IHRP) director Samer Muscati outlines the problem of immigration detention of children in Canada and proposes solutions ("More than 200 Canadian children have been held in immigration detention since 2011. Let's end that inhumanity," February 23, 2017).

The op-ed is based on the IHRP report Invisible Citizens: Canadian Children in Immigration Detention.

More than 200 Canadian Children Housed in Toronto Immigration Detention Facility since 2011

On Feb. 6, 2017, the Faculty of Law gathered Professors Lisa Austin, Jutta Brunnée, Anver Emon, Audrey Macklin and David Schneiderman to discuss some key legal questions arising from the new Trump presidency, including immigration, climate treaties, and conflict of interest.