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The news is filled with accounts of women and children from Central America arriving at the U.S. border and seeking asylum. While we are learning a great deal about their struggles once they arrive at the southern border, far less is known about their journey from Central America to the United States. Government statistics show that many women are migrating with their children, and the number of families apprehended at the border has increased in recent years. Many of these women rely on human smugglers to transport them and their children across Mexico to the U.S. border. This report reveals the reality of human smuggling from the perspective of migrant women from Central America. Their testimony and experiences can teach us about the trauma they face during migration and how it continues to impact them when they arrive in the United States.

The Bonner Leader program affords college students an opportunity to use their energy, talents, and leadership skills to engage in community service while providing developmental and financial support.

World Refugee Day is June 20th. Here are some quick facts about refugee admissions in the United States this year. The refugee ceiling is set at 30,000 for Fiscal Year 2019. Thus far into the fiscal year, the US has admitted 18,051 refugees, or 60 percent of the total allowable. It is likely that the US will not admit all 30,000 refugees this year.

The Immigrant Stories webpage now includes a new fact sheet and analysis of immigrants from the Caribbean living in the Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD metro areas. We also have a new inspirational interview with a Cuban immigrant.

In Spring 2019 the IIR hosted three excellent events featuring top experts and researchers. Videos from all three events are now available at iir.gmu.edu/about/iir-events.

Sophie Lutz, a Global Affairs major, spent her spring break abroad through George Mason’s Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution’s program, “Fieldwork with the Syrian Refugees in Jordan.”

Global affairs alumnus John Hancq launched a social enterprise to help developing countries expand their businesses, starting with beekeeping in Tanzania.