Smita Misra

My research unpacks the work of physician-advocates and expert witnesses in immigration proceedings. An era defined by anti-immigration sentiment and restrictive asylum policies has also seen a rise in migrant-advocacy efforts and migrant resistances. These concurrent responses to immigration restriction employ strategies that both compete with and complement each other. I challenge the taken-for-granted assumption that clinical objectivity and political advocacy are mutually exclusive. Weaving together bureaucratic cultures and migrant voices, this study provides insights into the role of strategic framing and migrant resistance in migrant advocacy and social movements.