Humanitarianism from Below

""Makes an important contribution to the literature on humanitarianism through its analysis of Mexico's Casas de Migrante and the many roles that they play in supporting migrants' journeys. While most studies of humanitarian action focus on the work of a handful of international agencies, the fact is that local communities are on the front lines of humanitarian response. . . . Olayo-Méndez analyzes the important role of faith in the emergence and functioning of these Casas de Migrantes, which is rarely considered in the increasingly secular humanitarian sector."" - Elizabeth Ferris, Georgetown University ""Explores the rich network of 150 casas de migrante (roughly ""migrant shelters"") in Mexico, which have received far too little scholarly attention given their central importance to migrants from throughout the world. What emerges from Olayo-Méndez's multi-year journey and ""mobile"" methodology – as social worker, volunteer in multiple casas, and academic – is a migrant-centered view of these institutions, which are not ""neutral,"" but are responsive to migrants' immediate and long-term needs, and thus are necessarily engaged in advocacy based on these needs, as well as their underlying values and (often) their faith commitments."" - Donald M. Kerwin, Vice-President for Advocacy, Research, and Partnerships, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA. ""Based on years of active involvement and research with Casas de Migrantes, Humanitarianism From Below gives a unique insight how these shelters emerged in a context of, and as a reaction to, increasing state repression and violence towards vulnerable migrant groups. This groundbreaking book fills an essential gap in the study of migration studies and humanitarianism, and no researcher could be better positioned than Alejandro Olayo-Mendez to write it."" - Hein de Haas, author of How Migration Really Works: A Factful Guide to the Most Divisive Issue in Politics