In cities like Rabat and Tangier, Sub-Saharan African migrants, many from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria build tightly knit communities while en route to Europe. Cynthia Magallanes-Gonzalez tells the story of community leaders who, caught between advocacy and survival, become both rights activists and migration brokers. Her research reveals how, in the face of state violence and structural barriers, these leaders reshape our understanding of migrant agency in North Africa.

Cynthia Magallanes-Gonzalez is a PhD candidate in sociology at the University of Michigan. She researches migration governance and race-making in North Africa, focusing on Morocco's immigration policies and their impact on transnational migrants. Her work draws on political sociology, legal studies, and race scholarship, using interviews and participant observation. A Fulbright and Ford Fellow, she holds a master’s from SOAS University of London and a BA from Occidental College.

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