North South University’s (NSU) School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) hosted a webinar, as part of the NSU SHSS Distinguished Webinar Series titled, “Towards a Right to Immigrate?” on 16 April, 2026 (Thursday). This discussion accumulated a wide range of audience consisting of faculty members, students, and researchers interested in the dynamics of immigration and citizenship, a press release said.
The guest speaker for this session was Prof. Frédéric Mégret, Hans & Tamar Oppenheimer Chair in Public International Law, McGill University.
Prof. Mégret’s presentation delved into recognizing a presumptive right to immigrate, arguing that its current absence is a historical anomaly that facilitates global injustice ingrained in the foundations of cosmopolitanism, liberal self-determination, and decolonial justice. His thesis posited that the lack of such a right creates a “situation of exception” unsuited to modern international human rights law. Furthermore, he clarified that this framework does not advocate for entirely open borders, but rather shifts the burden of proof to the state.
Md. Rizwanul Islam, Professor of Law and Dean of SHSS at NSU, provided the introductory remarks for the session. He highlighted that when navigating the complexities of visas, immigration, refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers, the international community should pivot toward universal values rooted in human rights rather than restrictive national interests. Dr. Selim Reza, Associate Professor, Coordinator of the Center for Migration Studies (CMS) and Coordinator of the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), at NSU, moderated the session.
During the Q&A segment, attendees engaged Prof. Mégret on various topics, including the commodification of citizenship, state sovereignty on restrictive immigration policies, and climate-induced displacement. The interactive exchange of ideas deeply enriched the webinar experience for all attendees.
