On 10 June 2025, the Amsterdam Centre for Migration and Refugee Law (ACMRL) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam celebrated the tenth anniversary of its LL.M programme with a vibrant closing event.
The Head of the Centre, Martijn Stronks, opened the gathering by acknowledging the programme’s evolution over the past decade and honouring this year’s cohort for their exceptional contributions, which ranged from participating in sessions of the UN Committee on Migrant Workers to conducting in-depth legal research for pending cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union within the Migration Law Clinic.
Keynote Lecture by Professor Hiroshi Motomura
The highlight of the afternoon was a keynote lecture by Professor Hiroshi Motomura (UCLA School of Law), who introduced his latest work, Borders and Belonging. In his speech, Motomura reminded the students that ‘the world needs you more than ever’, encouraging them to use his book not just academically, but as a toolkit for engaging constructively in debates about national borders and membership. His remarks prompted a lively and critical discussion about current migration politics in Europe and the United States.
His lecture has been recorded and is available to watch here.
Migration Law Clinic Research Presentation
After a refreshment break, during which the dialogue continued over tea and coffee, students from the Migration Law Clinic presented their expert opinion, titled ‘From Nationality to Ethnicity: Rethinking the Civic Integration Exam Abroad According to the Prohibition of Ethnic and Racial Discrimination in EU Law’. Drawing on months of research, Sterre Nederpel, Mart Bornebroek, Annie Lei, Annabella O’Sullivan and Alessia Cigna addressed in their research whether the distinction between exempt and non-exempted nationalities under the Wet Inburgering Buitenland (Act on Integration Abroad) aligns with the EU’s prohibition of discrimination, particularly on the grounds of ethnicity and race. During their presentation, they emphasised that the issue of discrimination, particularly with regard to ethnicity and race, has received limited consideration in the Court’s reasoning thus far. They concluded that ‘the present case merits closer judicial scrutiny of the possible ethnic and racial discriminatory consequences associated with nationality-based distinctions.’
The formal programme concluded with a drinks and snacks reception at the Grand Café Living. Students, lecturers and guests celebrated a decade of academic work and looked ahead to the next ten years of scholarship, advocacy and impact in the field of migration and refugee law.