David Scott FitzGerald is Theodore E. Gildred Chair in U.S.-Mexican Relations, Professor of Sociology, and Co-Director of the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies at the University of California, San Diego. His research analyzes policies regulating migration and asylum in countries of origin, transit, and destination. FitzGerald's books include Culling the Masses: The Democratic Origins of Racist Immigration Policy in the Americas, which won the American Sociological Association's Distinguished Scholarly Book Award, and A Nation of Emigrants: How Mexico Manages its Migration.

Winner, American Sociological Association Human Rights Section Gordon Hirabayashi Book Award, 2021
Winner of the 2021 Human Rights Section's Best Book Award from the International Studies Association
Winner of the 2020 Thomas and Znaniecki Book Award
2019 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title

"Written in an accessible style, Refuge beyond Reach makes an excellent introduction to the topic of refugee deterrence." -- Kathryn Tomko Dennler , Refuge: Canada's Journal on Refugees

"In Refuge beyond Reach FitzGerald documents how rich democracies deploy techniques of "remote control" to deliberately prevent refugees from reaching sanctuary. Meticulously researched and comprehensive in scope, the book traces how prosperous democracies of the global North-Australia, Canada, the EU, and the US-have deliberately and systematically violated the spirit of refugee protection laws by shutting down most legal paths for asylum seekers to claim asylum. Although these countries do not repatriate refugees, they have implemented a number of so-called remote control measures-including complex visa and air transportation policies, asylee caging on third-country territories, maritime interception policies-to keep out unwanted foreigners. Refuge beyond Reach is an invaluable and timely reference for all who are interested in protection of refugees." -- Y. L. Espiritu, University of California San Diego, CHOICE

"Refuge beyond Reach is a meticulously researched and fascinating unveiling of the current practice by countries to shirk and undermine international refugee protection. FitzGerald's passionate analysis, highlighting the Canadian, US, EU, and Australian models, dissects the harmful legal and policy foundations informing and influencing current global practice to restrict the right to seek asylum. An eye-opener and useful reference for scholars and practitioners alike" -- Charmain Mohamed, Head of Refugee and Migrant Rights, Amnesty International

"For many European and North American nations, our asylum to refugees became part of our identity. But now, the richest, most peaceful, and well-organized societies are competing in a race to the bottom in becoming the least welcoming to people fleeing violence, war, and persecution. In Refuge beyond Reach, FitzGerald explains how and why the most powerful nations on Earth ended up betraying ancient signs of civilization and leaving the protection of refugees up to communities that have neither the resources nor the stability to protect the most vulnerable in their hour of greatest need. It is an important book for our time and age" -- Jan Egeland, Secretary General, Norwegian Refuge Council, former UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs

"FitzGerald persuasively shows how states in the global North have developed comprehensive systems for shutting out asylum-seekers fleeing persecution and violence. Based on innovative conceptual work and detailed case studies, Refuge beyond Reach provides a powerful and disturbing account of the undermining of principles fundamental to the international refugee regime through the construction of an 'architecture of repulsion" -- T. Alexander Aleinikoff, Professor and Director of the Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility, The New School, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees (2010-15)