Dr Rachel Humphris , BA (Durham), MPhil (Oxford), DPhil (Oxford), PGCertHE (Birmingham)
Professor of Political Anthropology
Email: r.humphris@qmul.ac.ukRoom Number: Arts One, Room 2.34ATwitter: @rachel_humphrisOffice Hours: Tuesdays 11:00-12:00 and Wednesdays 15:00-16:00 (in person or online, please email to book an appointment)
Profile
Rachel Humphris is a political anthropologist whose research focuses on migration, citizenship, governance, and the role of gender and race in welfare states and digital and AI infrastructures. She joined the School of Politics and International Relations in 2019 and became Professor in Political Anthropology in September 2025. Before Queen Mary, she held posts at the University of Birmingham and the University of Oxford. She has been a visiting fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity, UC Berkeley, York University (Toronto), and the University of Sheffield.
Her research is interdisciplinary and methodologically diverse, drawing on anthropology, sociology, science and technology studies, urban studies, and, more recently, data science. She uses ethnography to explore how welfare systems operate as instruments of migration control across European and North American cities. This has included long-term work with migrants identified as 'Roma' from central and eastern Romania, studies of sanctuary city initiatives in Canada, the UK and the USA, and, currently, leading an ERC project on 'digital welfare bordering,' which investigates how data-sharing and AI shape migrants’ access to services and everyday urban life.
Rachel is the author of Home-land: Romanian Roma, domestic spaces and the state (Bristol University Press/University of Chicago Press, 2019), which received the British Sociological Association Philip Abrams Memorial Prize (runner-up, 2020), and Making Sanctuary Cities: Migration, Citizenship and Urban Governance (Stanford University Press, 2025). Her articles appear in Sociology, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Antipode, Geopolitics, Critical Social Policy and other leading journals.
At Queen Mary she is Co-Director of the Centre for the Study of Migration and leads the University of Sanctuary Working Group.
Teaching
POL334 Migration and the Politics of Belonging (on leave)
POLM095 Migration and International Public Policy (on leave)
Research
Research Interests:
My research examines the welfare–migration nexus and its effects on local lives, identities and places. It is grounded in contexts of rapid urban change in North America and Europe. My work addresses themes including radical programmes for alternative urban futures; the influence of mobility on political and moral economies; and the impact of digital technologies on welfare and migration.
I have conducted long-term ethnographic research with migrants from central and eastern Romania. My first book, Home-land: Romanian Roma, domestic spaces and the state (Bristol University Press/University of Chicago Press, 2019), is an ethnography of new migrant families making home in a ‘downscaled’ urban area amid hostile immigration, welfare and labour policies.
My second major project, Welcoming Cities? Understanding sanctuary in securitised states, is a policy ethnography of urban sanctuary initiatives in Canada, the United States and the UK. It explores how cities shape global migration governance and citizenship in the face of increasingly securitised national regimes. This research underpins my second book, Making Sanctuary Cities: Migration, Citizenship and Urban Governance (Stanford University Press, 2025), which examines how common ground is negotiated in sanctuary cities, the forms of action mobilised among urban residents, and the political possibilities that emerge or are foreclosed in these contexts.
My current research, funded by an ERC Starting Grant, focuses on “digital welfare bordering” and investigates how data-sharing and artificial intelligence are transforming the intersection of welfare governance and international migration regimes.
Previous research projects:
‘Digital Sanctuary’: Exploring expansion of biometric data since COVID-19 and impacts on urban residents with complex migration status
EU families and 'eurochildren' in Brexiting Britain: renegotiating inclusion, citizenship and belonging, ESRC UK in a Changing Europe programme
Becoming adult: Conceptions of futures and wellbeing among young people subject to immigration control in the UK, ESRC
UPWEB: Understanding the practice and developing the concept of welfare bricolage in diverse European cities, NORFACE
Migration and Toleration in Western Europe, Remembrance, Responsibility and Future Foundation, Berlin (EVZ)
Public health aspects of migrant health: the evidence on health status for refugees and asylum seekers in the European Region, World Health Organisation, Copenhagen
KING: Knowledge for Integration Governance, Foundation for Initiatives and Studies on Multi-Ethnicity, European Commission
Welfare, neighbourhood and new geographies of diversity, COMPAS, University of Oxford
Making the most of EU Funds for Sustainable Housing and Inclusion of disadvantaged Roma (explicitly but not exclusively targeted), United Nations Development Programme, Bratislava
Sinai and related routes: trafficking and smuggling from Eritrea to Egypt and Israel, Policy Development and Evaluation Service United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva
Examples of research funding:
2022-2024: Sanctuary Cities and Irregular Migration in Europe (SPIMEC) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship, European Research Agency
2018-2021: Welcoming Cities? Understanding sanctuary in securitised states. Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship.
2018-2021: Cities on the Edge: How to create welcoming, egalitarian, adaptable, flourishing cities of tomorrow. Global Challenges Research Grant for PhD studentship.
2017-2020: EU families and ‘eurochildren’ in Brexiting Britain: renegotiating inclusion, citizenship and belonging. ESRC.
2016-2017: The Role of Further and Higher Education as a Pathway from Poverty in London. Walcott Foundation.
2016: Early Career Writing Up Award. British Sociological Association.
2012-2015: European Academic Network on Romani Studies, Fellowship (Funded by European Union - Council of Europe Joint Programme, 2011-2015)
2013 Fritz Thyssen Foundation Award, University of Oxford
2013 Peter Lienhardt Memorial Fund Competitive Award, University of Oxford
2013 Philip Bagby Trust Award, University of Oxford
2013 D & E Zemenides Award for Human Welfare Research, University of Oxford
2009 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship, Central European University, Budapest
Publications
Books
Humphris, R. (2025) ‘Making Sanctuary Cities: Migration, Citizenship and Urban Governance’ Stanford University Press
Humphris, R. (2019) ‘Home-land: Romanian Roma, domestic space and the state’ Bristol: University of Bristol Press/ University of Chicago Press
Book Chapters
Humphris, R., (2022) ‘Recasting the ‘Best Interests’ of Young People on the Move: the UK Case’ in Chase, E., (ed.) Undocumented and Unaccompanied: Children of Migration in the European Union and the United States (London: Routledge) ISBN: 978-1-032-07425-2
Humphris, R., (2019) ‘On the threshold: becoming Romanian Roma, everyday racism and residency rights in transition’ in Can Yıldız and Nicholas De Genova (eds.) Roma Migrants in the European Union: Un/Free Mobility Routledge: London
Humphris, R., & Bradby, H. (2017) (invited chapter contribution) Health Status of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Europe. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Global Public Health.
Edited Volumes
Editor, Special Issue, ‘Digital Technologies and Migration: Behind and Beyond the Black Box’, with Marie Godin and Derya Ozkul, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies
Editor, Special Issue, ‘The Role of ‘Voluntariness’ in the Governance of Migration’ with Reinhard Schweitzer and Pierre Monforte, Migration and Society
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Godin, M., Ozkul, D., and Humphris R., (2025) Digital Technologies and Migration: Behind and Beyond the Black Box, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2025.2513153
Humphris, R., Hudson, G., and Bazurli, R., (2025) Digital Internal Bordering: Sanctuary Cities, Data-Sharing, and Surveillance in the UK and Canada, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 1–20. doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2025.2513166
Benchekroun, R., Humphris, R., & Sigona, N. (2024). Mothering in hostile environments: Migrant families negotiating the welfare and immigration regime nexus. Critical Social Policy, 44(2), 285-306.
Humphris, R., (2023) Sanctuary as mobilizing metaphor: how sanctuary articulates urban governance, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. 49:14, 3585-3601.
Humphris R. Legacies of British Imperialism in the Contemporary UK Asylum–Welfare Nexus. Social Sciences. 2022; 11(10):432. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11100432
Schweitzer, R., Humphris, R. and Monforte, P. (2022) The Role of ‘Voluntariness’ in the Governance of Migration, Migration and Society 5, 1-12.
Humphris, R. and Yarris, K. E., (2022) Welcoming Acts. Temporality and Affect among Volunteer Humanitarians in the UK and USA, Migration and Society 5, 75-89.
Humphris, R., (2021) Homemade State: Motherhood, citizenship and the home in child welfare encounters, Sociology doi:10.1177/00380385211063367.
Samkange-Zeeb, F., Samerski, S., Doos, L., Humphris, R., Padilla, B., and Bradby, H., (2020) ‘“It’s the first barrier” – Lack of common language a major obstacle when accessing/providing healthcare services across Europe’ Frontiers in Sociology in press.
Bradby, H., Humphris, R., & Padilla, B., (2020) Universalism, diversity and norms: gratitude, healthcare and welfare chauvinism, Critical Public Health, 30:2, 166-178.
Humphris, R., Bradby, H., Padilla, B., Phillimore, J., Pemberton, S. and Samerski, S. (2020), "After encounters: revealing patients’ unseen work through their pathways to care", International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, 16:2, 173-187.
Humphris, R., and Sigona, N., (2019), The Bureaucratic Capture of Child Migrants: Effects of In/visibility on Children On the Move. Antipode, 51: 1495-1514.
Meloni, F., and Humphris, R., (2019) Citizens of nowhere: The paradoxes of care and responsibility for unaccompanied minors in the UK Journal of Refugee Studies doi: 10.1093/jrs/fez037
Humphris, R., and Sigona, N., (2019) Outsourcing the ‘best interests’ of unaccompanied asylum seeking minors in the era of austerity Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 45:2, 312-330.
Pemberton, S., Bradby, H., Humphris, R., Lopes, J., Padilla, B., Phillimore, J., Samerski, S., Access to healthcare in superdiverse neighbourhoods. Health and Place (2019) Jan;55, 128-135. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.12.003.
Humphris, R., (2019) Mutating faces of the state? Austerity, migration and faith-based volunteers in a UK downscaled urban context. The Sociological Review 67:1, 95-110.
Humphris R. (2018) On the threshold: becoming Romanian Roma, everyday racism and residency rights in transition Social Identities 24:4, 505-519.
Phillimore J, Humphris R, and Khan K. (2018) Reciprocity for new migrant integration: resource conservation, investment and exchange Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 44:2, 215-232.
Allen W, Anderson B, Van Hear N, Sumption M, Düvell F, Hough J, Rose L, Humphris R, and Walker S. (2018) Who Counts in Crises? The New Geopolitics of International Migration and Refugee Governance Geopolitics 23:1, 217-243.
Humphris R, (2017) Borders of home: Roma migrant mothers negotiating boundaries in home encounters Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 43:7, 1190-1204.
Humphris R, and Abuhaloob L, (2015) A Double or Triple Burden for Palestinian Children Residing in Gaza Refugee Camps? Journal of Palestinian Refugee Studies 4:2, 89-93.
Humphris R, (2013) European Union Enlargement and Roma Migrants’ Welfare: The Role of Changing Migration Status in UK Education Policy and Practice Human Welfare 2:1, 26-35.
Policy Reports
Humphris, R., Storer, E. Simpson, N., Salik, A., Duale, S., (2025), Addressing Housing Distress to Improve Health and Wellbeing, Queen Mary Policy Hub, Queen Mary, University of London, Available at: www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/policy-hub/queen-mary-policy-briefs/addressing-housingdistress-to-improve-health-and-wellbeing-in-uk-inner-cities-/
Benchekroun R, and Humphris R., (2021) UK Hostile Environment Resource Guide 1: What is the hostile environment? London: Social Scientists Against the Hostile Environment
Benchekroun R, and Humphris R., (2021) UK Hostile Environment Resource Guide 2: Access to health. London: Social Scientists Against the Hostile Environment
Loyola-Hernandez L, Wangari-Jones P, Yemane T, Humphris R, Anyiam S., (2021) Community Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Structural Vulnerabilities, Resilience and Migrant Communities-led responses to COVID-19 Leeds: Racial Justice Network
Humphris, R., Wangari-Jones, P. and Loyola-Hernández, L. (2021) STOP THE SCAN: Police use of mobile fingerprinting technology for immigration enforcement, UK. Leeds: Racial Justice Network and Yorkshire Resists
Nira Yuval-Davis et al. (2020) Migration, Racism and the ‘Hostile Environment’ Academy of Social Sciences Refugee, Migration and Settlement Group
Pemberton, S. and Humphris, R. (2018) ‘Invisible Rules: Social Mobility, Low-income and the Role of Further and Higher Education’ London: Walcot Foundation
Sigona, N., Chase, E., Humphris, R. (2017) ‘Protecting the ‘best interests’ of the child in transition to adulthood’, Becoming Adult Research Brief no. 3, London: UCL.
Humphris, R. and Sigona, N. (2016) ‘Children and Un/Safe Migration in Europe’ Berlin: IOM.
Humphris, R. and Sigona, N. (2016) ‘Mapping unaccompanied asylum seeking children in England’, Becoming Adult Research Brief, no. 1, London: UCL.
Bradby, H., Humphris, R., Newall, D., Mahmud, A. and Phillimore, J. (2015) ‘Accessibility and quality of health care delivery for refugees, asylum seekers and newly arrived migrants: which policies and interventions work?’ WHO Europe Health Evidence Network Report. Venice: World Health Organisation.
Phillimore, J., Humphris, R., and Khan, K. (2015) ‘Local experiences and civil society interventions into migrants’ intervention in Europe’ in Gilardoni, G., D’Odorico, & Carrillo, D. eds. KING Knowledge for Integration Governance: evidence on migrants’ integration in Europe. Milan: Foundazione ISMU.
Phillimore, J., Craig, G., Humphris, R. Khan, K., Kindler, M. and Ratcheva, V. (2013) Local and experiential aspects of migrant integration. Milan: Foundazione ISMU.
Humphris, R. (2013) ‘Refugees and Rashaida: Human smuggling and trafficking from Eritrea to Sudan and Egypt’ New Issues in Refugee Research No. 254. March 2013.
Humphris, R. (2010) The EU Stockholm Programme: Implications for asylum seekers European Network Against Racism, July 2010.
Humphris, R. (2010) Refugee Population Guide, Information Centre for Asylum and Refugees, July 2010.
Working Papers
Humphris, Rachel. (2021) A history of the memories of the sanctuary city in San Francisco, USA. Welcoming Cities Research Paper No. 3
Humphris, Rachel. (2020) A history of the memories of the sanctuary city in Toronto, Canada. Ryerson Working Papers Series 2020/5 Toronto: Ryerson University
Humphris, Rachel (2020) A history of the memories of the sanctuary city in Sheffield, UK. 43:2020 Edgbaston: University of Birmingham.
Sigona, N. and Humphris, R., (2016) ‘Child mobility in the EU’s refugee crisis: What are the data gaps and why do they matter?’ IRiS Working Paper 16:2016 Edgbaston: University of Birmingham.
Pemberton, S. and Humphris, R., (2016) ‘Locality, neighbourhood and health: a literature review’ IRiS Working Paper 13-2016 Edgbaston: University of Birmingham.
Phillimore, J., Humphris, R., Klaas, F., and Knecht, M. (2016) ‘Bricolage: potential as a conceptual tool for understanding access to welfare in superdiverse neighbourhoods’ IRiS Working Paper 14-2016 Edgbaston: University of Birmingham.
Humphris, R. (2014) ‘Integration practice in the European Union. Initiatives and innovations by institutions and civil society’ IRiS Working Paper 3-2014 Edgbaston: University of Birmingham.
Supervision
Rachel is interested in supervising doctoral students related to her research interests.
Current PhD students:
Katherine Maria Phipps, ‘Citizens of the World? Narratives of Mobility and Identity across Generations in Greece.’
Nuni Vieira Jorgensen, ‘Fleeing South: The Impact of Patchwork Policies on Transnational Venezuelan Families in Latin America.’
Irene Garcia, ‘Urban borderlands and minority nationalism: Understanding local approaches to immigration policy in multinational states.’
Oliver Nixon, ‘Housing Access and Digital Transitions: A participatory study with first time home-seekers.’
Public Engagement
Rachel currently works with a range of organisations supporting migrants across the UK, Europe, Canada and North America and is a founding member of Social Scientists Against the Hostile Environment.
Previously Rachel was a consultant for numerous UN and international agencies including UNHCR, International Organisation on Migration, World Health Organisation and the OECD. She was the UK Coordinator for the European Website on Integration 2016 – 2019.