Dinner & Dialogue: Is It Unjust for States to Exclude Outsiders?

Immigration policy has been a focal point in American politics for at least a decade.  In 2024, in response to public disapproval on the issue of immigration, the Biden Administration imposed restrictions on asylum eligibility and penalties for illegal border crossings (which remain in place) that drastically reduced the number of unauthorized border crossings into the U.S.  The National Immigration Law Center argued that "[t]hese changes mean more people will die, or face persecution and abuse, after they are blocked from accessing safety at the U.S. border."  Does justice require states to admit asylum seekers or refugees?  In general, is it unjust for states to exclude outsiders?  Do states have an obligation to grant asylum to migrants who face persecution in their home countries?  Join us for a discussion with Austin Kocher (President of Relevant Research, research fellow at the Immigration Lab at American University, and author of a Substack newsletter that focuses on immigration policy analysis) and Kit Wellman (Professor of Philosophy at WashU and co-author of Debating the Ethics of Immigration: Is There a Right to Exclude?).

A light dinner will be served.  All are welcome for this free and unticketed event, but space is sometimes limited, so arrive early to ensure you get a seat!  

The Dinner & Dialogue series presents debates on timely ethical and political questions that model reasoning about value questions and the positive side of disagreement.

This event is organized by the Civil Society Initiative and is sponsored by the Frick Initiatives at WashU.