Thoughts on my week in Germany - Immigration, Anti-discrimination Policy and a Humanitarian Crisis

It was a fast-paced whirlwind trip to Germany, but it was a great opportunity to engage with a variety of people who are interested in issues related to immigration and anti-discrimination policy. My last stop was in Hamburg where I spoke at the University of Hamburg, and the U.S. Consulate. At the Consulate, I spoke with a group of people who had done overseas exchange programs to the U.S., like the Fulbright program. It was very interesting to hear their perspectives as professionals, particularly from one woman who is a teacher in a school that has a large number of migrant children. She discussed her frustrations as a Turkish woman, and we talked about the need for better training for teachers. I also talked about the institutionalization of equal opportunity and how to develop a new culture in corporations.

Before my talk at the Consulate, I passed by it as I went for a run around the trail which goes around the Alster lake:


I was featured in the local newspaper in Heidelberg:

"Die Europäer sollten lernen, pragmatischer mit Migration umzugehen"

Die Migrationsforscherin Terri Givens über Flüchtlingspolitik in den USA und Europa und Wege gegen die illegale Einwanderung

23.04.2015, 06:00 Uhr

"Einwanderung lässt sich nicht verhindern", ist Terri Givens von der Universität in Austin überzeugt. Foto: Rothe

Von Christian Altmeier
Heidelberg. Terri Givens ist Professorin für Politikwissenschaft an der Universität von Texas in Austin. Die RNZ sprach mit der Expertin für Einwanderungspolitik am Rande eines Vortrags über die Flüchtlingsproblematik in Europa und den USA im Deutsch-Amerikanischen Institut (DAI) in Heidelberg.

One recurring issue this week was how to deal with the ongoing flow of people crossing the Mediterranean. As the EU struggles to deal with the humanitarian crisis that is playing out in the Mediterranean, I hope the member states will find a way to come together and work with the broader international community to immediately expand the search and rescue missions, and develop broad range strategies that will address the complicated set of issues that are leading people to take such desperate measures.

From Der Spiegel:

An Unending Refugee Tragedy: Europe's Path to Deadly Partition

AP/dpa

Migrants want to disembark on an Italian Navy vessel in Salerno, Italy. Between January and April of this year, 1,750 migrants died making the maritime crossing from Africa to Europe. Fifty-four migrants died during that same timespan last year.