Welcome!
My name is Delphine Nakache, and I am a Lawyer and Full Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa (Canada). ​I hold a University Research Chair on Migrant Protection and International Law.
My research focuses on improving protection for the most precarious groups of refugees, temporary migrants and immigrants, both in Canada and abroad. My work, published in English and in French, is at the interface of academic research and public policy.
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I am regularly consulted by both domestic and international organizations on issues of immigration and citizenship and I have built a considerable network of connections to the most crucial groups of stakeholders, from organizations working with, from, and for migrants to policymakers and public service workers.
Areas of Specialization
My research navigates several subfields within the law (refugee law, immigration law, citizenship law, administrative law, constitutional law, human rights law, international law), and attempts to build bridges across these different areas of knowledge. Situated at the interface of academia and public policy work, my research specifically seeks to shed light on the many factors creating or exacerbating precarity, highlight the needs and challenges faced by precarious status migrants, and develop solutions aimed at reducing this precarity.
I am committed to documenting and analyzing the perspectives and experiences of migrants, as well as those of other related stakeholders, and so my work usually involves interviews/focus groups/surveys with the migrants themselves and other key informants (i.e., civil servants, migrant representatives and “on the ground” practitioners including lawyers and social workers) in multiple research sites across Canada. In doing so, I value and promote the active engagement of community groups in my research. Partnering with community-groups – i.e., migrant-led organizations and front-line organizations assisting migrants – is essential, not only to reach out to the migrant population, but also to ensure that community priorities and needs are met and that the research direction is sound and appropriate. I also regularly engage with civil servants and civil society, to communicate my research ideas and gauge their relevance and prospects for implementation.
In the last fifteen years, approximately 550 migrants and 250 key informants have been interviewed in my various projects. In each of my empirical projects, I have taken great care of providing the study results to participants in a format that is the most useful to them (policy briefs, report cards, community reports, videos etc.).
My Commitment
There are three key principles that guide my research activities:
1
At the forefront of emerging issues.
Most of my works (e.g. on immigration detention, temporary migration, citizenship law) explore novel legal and policy areas where literature is scarce or non-existent, despite an urgent need for research in these areas.
2
A comparative approach to the rights of migrants and refugees.
An important focus of my scholarship is a comparison between Canadian and foreign policies and practices. This comparative approach to the rights of migrants and refugees, coupled with my knowledge and practice of multidisciplinary research methods, equips me well to lead and coordinate ambitious nationwide and international projects.
3
Collaborative research, both with academic and non-academic groups.
My research projects include extensive field research activities in various Canadian jurisdictions and involve strong partnerships with local researchers and community groups. I am also directly involved in community-led projects, as a researcher and research advisor.
About this website
This portfolio website is designed to provide an overview of my professional accomplishments and to give you some insight into the values and principles that drive my work, as a lawyer, academic and citizen. You will learn about my involvement in various projects and my publications. In the “CV” page, you will also find specific details about my professional and educational background, and the funding and awards I received.
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I am passionate about my work and I am always open to new connections and conversations. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in discussing collaboration opportunities or need more information.