Mission
AANIR seeks to harness the knowledge, skills, and political platforms of engaged anthropologists to support and advocate on behalf of immigrants and refugees on our campuses and in our communities.
About Us
The Anthropologist Action Network for Immigrants and Refugees formed at a late-breaking session at the American Anthropological Association’s 2016 annual meeting in Minneapolis, where we gathered to brainstorm ways to use our collective energy as engaged anthropologists to defend (im)migrant and refugee communities during a period of heightened political hostility. Since 2016, we have met on a regular basis to share our work on our campuses, in our communities, and across transnational borders. Together, we have published an article in Anthropology News, organized a virtual townhall with national experts on immigration and sanctuary policies, and coordinated several executive sessions at AAA meetings, including this one: Executive Session at the AAA’s 2017 annual meeting. We have also worked together to publish various opinion statements and policy responses on public and media platforms, such as (insert hyperlinks). Across these activities of engaged anthropology, we work to leverage our collective presence as anthropologists to support the diverse immigrant and refugee communities with whom we work.