Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Yasmeen Abu-Laban

@yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social

1.1K followers 730 following 55 posts

Professor of Political Science and Canada Research Chair at University of Alberta. Focused on anti-racism, immigration, citizenship and human rights. She/her.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · Jan 5

Very happy to share our 2024 transdisciplinary book Resisting the Dehumanization of Refugees, which brings together academics, practitioners and refugees. It's open access so you can download the pdf for free or purchase a hard copy here: www.aupress.ca/books/120327...

An outline of a human with their brain and heart connected by hearts.

38 100

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · 18d

www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

Opinion: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights should not be written off as a failure

The aim of treating everyone with respect is not a lofty goal beyond our reach. It’s where we are meant to begin

www.theglobeandmail.com

1 3

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · 18d

Aww thanks Andy. Right back at you!

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · 24d

So happy to have worked with wonderful colleagues and a superb editor on Knowledge, Power and Migration! The book is aimed at bridging the North/South divide in migration studies.

Emily Andrew @eandreweditor.bsky.social · 24d

Great to see @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social at the @apsa.bsky.social meetings! Here, with her new book, coedited with @tungohan.bsky.social and @mireillepaquet.bsky.social.

@mcgillqueensup.bsky.social is the proud publisher.

A woman wearing a black dress stands in front of a table, holding a copy of her book and smiling.

The book cover of “Knowledge, Power, and Migration: Contesting the North/South Divide“.

1 4

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · 29d

A meaningful and important post about kindness and the academics we remember for it.

loleen.substack.com/p/how-to-mov...

How to move forward with kindness in a world that feels anything but.

Plus some oversharing. Content warning for grief and loss; skip this one if these topics are not for you right now.

loleen.substack.com

Reposted by Yasmeen Abu-Laban

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · Sep 9

“We should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino.”

In LA now, that is the reality, at least as long as this case continues. And there’s no reason in this opinion to assume it won’t soon be the reality for the rest of us, too.

Supreme Court blesses racial profiling by ICE

The conservative justices don't explain a decision that green lights detaining people for how they look.

www.motherjones.com

44 230 670

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · Sep 8

theconversation.com/canadas-resp...

Canada’s response to the war in Gaza raises questions about its commitment to human rights and justice

Double standards in Canada’s approach to Gaza cast doubt on its commitment to principles of human rights.

theconversation.com

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · Jun 23

theloop.ecpr.eu/europes-call...

Europe’s call to international scholars must come with real support

European leaders are inviting American academics to seek refuge in Europe. But as Joseph Noonan argues, the policies do not always match the rhetoric. If Europe truly wants to attract global talent, i...

theloop.ecpr.eu

1 1

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · Jun 20

Delighted that this new volume is out with McGill-Queen's, looking at the North/South divide in migration research. @mcgillqueensup.bsky.social @eandreweditor.bsky.social @mireillepaquet.bsky.social @tungohan.bsky.social

Advertisement for Knowledge, Power, and Migration: Contesting the North/South Divide featuring the cover of the book which is blue with a broken compass split between North and South.

3 7

Reposted by Yasmeen Abu-Laban

The New York Times @nytimes.com · May 23

“Life is better when we leap together.” Kermit the Frog delivered a commencement speech at the University of Maryland on Thursday, the alma mater of his creator, Jim Henson. nyti.ms/4dwMuhQ

330 3.3K 15K

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · May 19

This has taken way too long.
www.cbc.ca/news/world/i...

Canada, Britain, France threaten action if Israel does not stop military offensive and lift aid restrictions | CBC News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel would control the whole of Gaza despite mounting international pressure that forced it to lift a blockade on aid supplies that has lef...

www.cbc.ca

5 29 75

Reposted by Yasmeen Abu-Laban

CERC Migration @cercmigration.bsky.social · May 13

Kicking off our sixth annual International Migration conference with an insightful discussion on what’s next for the future of immigration in Canada amidst a shifting global landscape 🇨🇦🌎

#InternationalMigration2025

1 2 8

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · May 6

Thanks so much @emmettmacfarlane.com !!!

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · May 6

Yeeeeee these advance copies just arrived! So great to have worked @mireillepaquet.bsky.social and @tungohan.bsky.social on this volume challenging the North/South divide in migration research, and to have been expertly supported by @eandreweditor.bsky.social at MQUP!

Cover of the new book Knowledge, Power and Migration: Contesting the North/South divide portraying a compass split in half.

2 3 25

Reposted by Yasmeen Abu-Laban

The Latino Newsletter @thelatinonewsletter.org · May 6

The May 5 edition of @thelatinonewsletter.org features opinion by immigration attorney Adam Peña.

The Government Told Me to Leave the Country
I’m a U.S. citizen and an immigration attorney

The Government Told Me to Leave the Country

SAN DIEGO — On the night of April 10, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emailed me a notice basically saying I had to self-deport within seven days because “DHS was now exercising its di...

thelatinonewsletter.org

1 1 3

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · May 5

Happy my new co-edited book with Abigail Bakan on the UN is out with Routledge!

www.routledge.com/Human-Rights...

Human Rights and the United Nations: Paradox and Promise

This book considers the complex and contradictory role of the United Nations when it comes to human rights around the world. It depicts the United Nations as a global arena in which state and non-stat...

www.routledge.com

1 2

Reposted by Yasmeen Abu-Laban

The Hill Times @hilltimes.com · May 5

'This really is an intergovernmental struggle': The U of A's Jared Wesley speaks with Peter Mazereeuw about the view from Alberta following another Liberal election victory.

Hill Times: www.hilltimes.com/podcast/this...
Apple: apple.co/36Xy34C
Spotify: spoti.fi/3lOeth9

2 3

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · Apr 29

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZCF...

Canada will deal with US 'on our own terms' Mark Carney tells BBC | BBC News

YouTube video by BBC News

www.youtube.com

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · Apr 28

Just out: a new article with Abigail Bakan on Canada's foreign policy and Israel.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Still ‘standing with’ Israel?: Canadian foreign policy and the legacy of Stephen Harper - Abigail B. Bakan, Yasmeen Abu-Laban, 2025

When Stephen Harper became the first Canadian prime minister to speak in the Knesset, he declared unwavering loyalty to Israel. Liberal prime minister Justin Tr...

journals.sagepub.com

1 1

Reposted by Yasmeen Abu-Laban

Cas Ⓜ️udde @casmudde.bsky.social · Apr 28

This must be the first time in postwar history that a single person determines the election outcome in another country. #TrumpEffect

13 19 120

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · Apr 23

www.npr.org/2025/04/22/n...

Trump fires more immigration judges even as he aims to increase deportations

Getting rid of judges adds to criticism of the Trump administration for not giving migrants or noncitizens enough due process before they're deported.

www.npr.org

2 1

Reposted by Yasmeen Abu-Laban

Migration Studies @migrationjrnl.bsky.social · Apr 22

Does exposure to books in childhood encourage adult migration? In our latest issue, Zuzanna Brunarska and Artjoms Ivlevs highlight a positive association between the number of books in one’s childhood home and adult migration intentions.

#OpenAccess

doi.org/10.1093/migr...

4 9

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · Apr 20

The advanced polling station I voted at has been packed all weekend. It took me 45 minutes to vote yesterday. It will be interesting to see what voter turnout is!

Elections Canada sign saying "vote" with an arrow to direct people to the polling station.

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · Apr 19

www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...

Supreme Court orders Trump administration not to deport Venezuelans under Alien Enemies Act for now

The justices said no action should be taken to pursue the deportations of any alleged Venezuelan gang members in Texas under the rarely used wartime law.

www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Yasmeen Abu-Laban

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · Apr 17

A conservative federal judge just issued a dire warning:

The government must bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back to the United States after he was illegally deported to a brutal Salvadoran prison, or else the country will descend into lawlessness.

A conservative judge just issued a dire warning about the Abrego Garcia case

The government has brought us to the brink of "lawlessness.:

www.motherjones.com

33 190 710

Yasmeen Abu-Laban @yasmeenabulaban.bsky.social · Apr 14

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Mohsen Mahdawi: Palestinian student activist arrested at US citizenship interview

The green card holder was held "in direct retaliation" for his role in campus protests, says his lawyer.