Many years of work in the field of migration and human rights, studies at the University of Bern and at the EUI in Florence, doctorate in refugee law, director of Swiss Refugee Council, member of the board of ECRE (umbrella organisation of European asylum organisations), lecturer in international law at the University of Fribourg i.Ue., member of various national commissions and board member in non-governmental organisations.

Since 2010 associate professor for migration law at the University of Bern. Advisor to federal agencies and cantons in all areas of migration law (Swiss, European and international asylum and aliens law, citizenship and integration law), Council of Europe expert on questions of administrative detention under immigration law. Long-standing member of the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture (until 2020), including 4 years as its president. Organiser of the Swiss Migration Law Conference and main editor of the Swiss Yearbook on Migration Law.