Drew Johnson

Background

About Drew Johnson

As a publicly active scholar, my research is shaped and informed by on-the-ground experience. I work with attorneys and advocates who provide direct service to those seeking asylum, while also working to transform the policies, systems and technologies that criminalize those who arrive at the US-Mexico border seeking humanitarian protection. My scholarship traces the historical development of the current regime of border policing and immigration detention in the US, using an interdisciplinary methodology with a basis in media studies, legal-historical archival research, material culture and political theory. As an advocate working on the ground, I specialize in rapid response logistical support, collaborating with partner organizations and attorneys to plan and implement projects that provide asylum seekers with targeted legal representation.