Professor | Queen Mary University of London

My research focuses on the intersection between migration, globalization and urbanization to understand social inequalities. I primarily employ qualitative analysis that engages theories and debates in social policy, critical urbanism and migration studies. Much of my work is inherently interdisciplinary, cutting across research in anthropology, geography, politics and sociology.

My current research project is called ‘Digital welfare borders: the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) in migrants’ access to welfare (DigiWeB).’ It combines political anthropology and data science to explore how AI is reshaping welfare systems and migration management across Europe. It is funded by the European Research Council (2026 – 2031).

My last research project, ‘Welcoming Cities? Understanding Sanctuary in Securitized States’ was funded by the Leverhulme Trust. It explored the policies, practices and meaning of ‘sanctuary cities’ across Canada, USA and the UK. This research culminated in an acclaimed book ‘Making Sanctuary Cities: Migration, Citizenship and Urban Governance’ which was published by Stanford University Press in April 2025. You can hear me talk about it here.

I have also written an award-winning book based on my doctoral research with Romanian Roma migrants and front line workers in the UK. It is called ‘Home-land: Romanian Roma, domestic spaces and the state‘ and was published with University of Bristol Press.

You can contact me on r.humphris@qmul.ac.uk