For many years now, the ACMRL of VU Amsterdam has been one of the most prominent research centres in the field. It aims at tracking the multiplicity of complex developments in migration law that take place at the global, European and national levels.
Research topics include asylum and refugee law, and family reunion law. This extends to research into the human costs of border control, the intersection between the family and migration law, the role of the judiciary, the relation between (irregular) migration and the welfare state, the EU principle of mutual trust and the role of time in migration law.
Methods used by our researchers are varied, focusing on legal doctrinal, sociological, philosophical questions as well as more practice-oriented matters.
The excellent quality of our centre is evident in the numerous publications of the scholars and the VICI grants awarded by NWO (the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research). Furthermore, our Members have conducted research for the European Commission, the European Parliament, UNHCR, WODC, and Vluchtelingenwerk.
The research group is visible in the public debate, and its scholars are active in advisory committees to the government and non-governmental organizations and publish frequently on Verblijfblog.nl, where topical migration law issues are explained for a broader public.