Patrick Vernon

Monday, 20 April 2026-Histories of Compliance and Resistance

On Monday, 20 April 2026, the international webinar Histories of Compliance and Resistance: Social Workers and Immigration across Europe and the USA will bring together leading scholars and practitioners to explore the evolving relationship between social work and immigration.

Hosted collaboratively by the Social Welfare History Group and the Social Work History Network, the session will highlight a powerful and often overlooked reality: while social work has always been deeply intertwined with migration, its history within this space remains underexamined.

Why This Conversation Will Matter

At a time when immigration policies are tightening across the globe, the role of social workers will become increasingly complex—and more urgent than ever.

Across continents, governments will continue to expand control over immigration and citizenship. While often framed as administrative or economic decisions, these policies will have deeply human consequences, shaping the lives of individuals, families, and entire communities.

Social workers will find themselves at the centre of this tension—expected to operate within policy-driven systems while also advocating for justice, dignity, and care.

This will raise a critical question:
When will compliance become complicity, and when will resistance become necessary?

A Profession Shaped by Migration

Migration will not simply be a contemporary challenge for social work—it will remain foundational to its history and identity.

Institutions such as Hull House and Toynbee Hall will continue to stand as historical examples of how social work emerged in response to waves of migration during the 19th century. These spaces were created to support newcomers navigating unfamiliar systems, cultures, and economic realities.

Yet, despite these roots, the profession will still be grappling with how immigration policies have shaped its practices—and how social workers have either upheld or challenged those systems over time.

Key Perspectives to Be Explored

The webinar will feature a diverse panel of experts, each bringing a unique perspective to the intersection of migration and social work:

• Mimi Abramovitz will trace two centuries of U.S. immigration policy, questioning who is granted entry—and why.
• Cybelle Fox will examine how welfare systems have historically cooperated with immigration enforcement, while also highlighting moments of resistance.
• Emilio José Gómez Ciriano will emphasise the importance of awareness and inspiration, drawing lessons from those who worked through similarly turbulent periods.
• Patrick Vernon will explore migration, race, and public services in England, grounding the discussion in both historical and contemporary inequalities.

The panel discussion, joined by Rebecca Tipton, will further highlight the critical role of communication, interpretation, and language in shaping migrant experiences within social systems.

Compliance vs Resistance: Beyond a Binary

One of the key ideas that will be explored is that compliance and resistance are not always opposing forces.

Social workers will often operate in complex, grey areas:

• Following policy may enable immediate support for individuals within existing systems
• Challenging policy may contribute to long-term structural change—but not without personal and professional risk

Rather than a simple binary, the relationship between compliance and resistance will be shown to be fluid, shaped by context, ethics, and the realities of frontline practice.

Looking Ahead

As immigration continues to dominate political and social discourse, the role of social workers will only grow more complex.

This webinar will serve as both a reflection and a call to action:

• To examine the profession’s history more critically
• To acknowledge its complicity where it exists
• And to recognise its potential as a force for advocacy and systemic transformation

Ultimately, social work will not only be about navigating systems—it will be about shaping them.