Diego Acosta

Dr. Diego Acosta is a Global Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Bristol and Director of the Global Chair Nebrija-Santander on Migration and Human Rights at Nebrija University in Madrid. His academic focus centers on European and international migration law, exploring how migration laws shape inclusion/exclusion dynamics in Europe, South America, and globally. He has authored over 80 publications including the seminal 2018 monograph on South American citizenship law and the 2015 Global Migration trilogy.

His research projects include the Open Society Foundations-funded Freemove Hub mapping global free movement regimes (www.freemovehub.com) and the MARS project analyzing non-Western migration systems. He advises governments and international organizations like the IOM, EU, African Union, and IDB on migration policy reform. Notable contributions include migration policy reports for Latin America/Caribbean governments, EU integration frameworks, and the IGAD free movement protocol in East Africa.

Teaching spans European and migration law at the University of Bristol, with visiting professorships at NYU, Notre Dame, and King’s College London. His 2025 book How to Navigate Academia offers career guidance for researchers. Awards and fellowships include the Global Chair position and extensive pro bono legal counsel for NGOs and migrants' rights organizations.

Current initiatives focus on Venezuelan migrant responses, EU-Mediterranean border management, and阿根廷's migrant justice protocols. His work bridges academic research with policy impact through over 50 countries' case studies and interdisciplinary collaboration across 8 academic disciplines.