Michelle Browne

About
I am a J.D. candidate at the University of Washington School of Law with a focus on international migration policy and domestic enforcement. As a first-generation American whose parents emigrated from countries with a history of violence, I firmly believe in individuals’ rights to move across borders to secure safety for themselves and their families.
With a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship through University of Washington’s Canadian Studies Center, I am building a program of study focused on the comparison of Canadian and U.S. immigration law. Both the United States and Canada are amongst the countries that host the largest number of refugees and asylum seekers. Many migrants move between countries located in the same region, so the United States and Canada have a vested interest in each other’s immigration policies and practices. As an immigration attorney, I hope to work towards improving the international migration regime, particularly as it relates to refugees and asylum seekers in North America.
FLAS will also enable me to work toward French fluency. Speaking French at an advanced level will be a significant asset to my career. As an academic, it will allow me to consume French-language sources on international law and migration policy. In my professional career after law school, it will improve my ability to work directly with French-speaking refugees and asylum seekers, and to collaborate with policy experts and legal advocates from across the globe.