This Week in Immigration
This Week in Immigration gives you a rundown of key immigration issues. Experts from the Bipartisan Policy Center discuss and analyze all that is new and noteworthy on immigration policy.
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Ep. 169: How to Make Immigration Popular Through Demonstrably Beneficial Policies
05/07/2024
Ep. 169: How to Make Immigration Popular Through Demonstrably Beneficial Policies
In this week’s episode, BPC Senior Advisor Theresa Cardinal Brown and Senior Policy Analyst Jack Malde chat with Alexander Kustov, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. We discuss Professor Kustov’s research on how we might, or might not, be able to shift public opinion in the United States to increase support for immigration. One promising approach, that will be the subject of Professor Kustov’s forthcoming book “In Our Interest: How to Make Immigration Popular”, is adopting demonstrably beneficial policies that make voters confident their government is managing immigration in their interest.
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Ep. 168: A Legal Services Collaborative for Immigrant New Yorkers
04/23/2024
Ep. 168: A Legal Services Collaborative for Immigrant New Yorkers
In this week’s episode, BPC Senior Advisor Theresa Cardinal Brown and Senior Policy Analyst Jack Malde chat with Camille Mackler, the Founder and Executive Director of Immigrant ARC (I-ARC), a collaborative of over 80 legal service providers in New York State. I-ARC works with community leaders, legal service providers, state and local governments, law enforcement agencies, and Federal agencies and policymakers to ensure immigrants have access to a fair and efficient immigration system. We discuss I-ARC’s beginnings, the challenges it faces, its work helping newly arrived immigrants get work permits, and how federal, state, and local governments can help. Read more about I-ARC:
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Ep. 167: Interview with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Chief of Staff
04/09/2024
Ep. 167: Interview with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Chief of Staff
In this week’s episode, BPC Senior Advisor Theresa Cardinal Brown and Senior Policy Analyst Jack Malde chat with Michael D. Lumpkin, the Chief of Staff for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or “ICE”. We discuss the missions of ICE, the various challenges facing ICE including budgetary constraints, and its efforts to address the unprecedented number of arrivals at the US-Mexico border. We also discuss the importance of technology and innovation in ICE’s operations and Mr. Lumpkin’s views looking forward.
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Ep. 166: Immigration Driving the Economy and Its Relation to Social Security
03/26/2024
Ep. 166: Immigration Driving the Economy and Its Relation to Social Security
In this week’s episode, BPC Senior Advisor Theresa Cardinal Brown and Senior Policy Analyst Jack Malde discuss the role that recent high levels of immigration have played in driving the economy. They then welcome BPC Associate Director Emerson Sprick to discuss the role that increased immigration can play in securing Social Security solvency.
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Ep. 165: Can Biden Fix the Border? A Deep Dive
03/12/2024
Ep. 165: Can Biden Fix the Border? A Deep Dive
In this week’s episode, BPC Senior Advisor Theresa Cardinal Brown and Senior Policy Analyst Jack Malde do a deep dive into the claim, made by several Republicans, that President Biden can use his executive power to solve the border crisis without Congress.
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Ep. 164: Homelessness in the U.S. – Is Immigration the Issue?
02/27/2024
Ep. 164: Homelessness in the U.S. – Is Immigration the Issue?
In this week’s episode, BPC Senior Advisor Theresa Cardinal Brown and Senior Policy Analyst Jack Malde chat with Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and Francis Torres, a Senior Policy Analyst in Housing Policy at BPC, about homelessness in the U.S. We cover the scale of the issue, its causes, the extent to which immigration has exacerbated the issue, and the vital solutions needed.
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Ep. 163: A (Failed) Bipartisan Border Deal and Barriers to Immigrant Tax Credit Access
02/13/2024
Ep. 163: A (Failed) Bipartisan Border Deal and Barriers to Immigrant Tax Credit Access
In this week’s episode, BPC Senior Advisor Theresa Cardinal Brown talks us through the recent failed bipartisan border deal. Then, Theresa and Senior Policy Analyst Jack Malde chat to Policy Analyst Arianna Fano about a new BPC report examining the barriers immigrant families face in the take-up of tax credits. The Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) are crucial anti-poverty tools but many individuals in need—including a disproportionate share of eligible immigrants—do not claim these credits for a variety of reasons. We also chat to BPC Associate Director Emerson Sprick who tells us about a recent bipartisan tax bill that includes an expansion of the Child Tax Credit. Bipartisan Policy Center report: Bipartisan Policy Center blog: In this episode: (00:00) Introduction (01:17) The (Failed) Bipartisan Border Deal (09:58) BPC’s Report On Immigrant Access To Tax Credits (31:00) The Recent Bipartisan Tax Bill (38:35) Outro
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Ep. 162: A Rebounding Refugee Resettlement Program
01/30/2024
Ep. 162: A Rebounding Refugee Resettlement Program
In this week’s episode, BPC Senior Advisor Theresa Cardinal Brown chats with Mark Hetfield, President & CEO at HIAS and Claire Holba, an Immigration Policy Fellow at the Niskanen Center, about the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program. Mark tells us about the experience and challenges of refugee resettlement agencies on the ground, while Claire dives into the data around the Resettlement Program, highlighting something of a recent revival in its fortunes. Niskanen Center:
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Ep. 161: Border Talks and a Data-Driven Approach to Workforce Shortages
01/16/2024
Ep. 161: Border Talks and a Data-Driven Approach to Workforce Shortages
In this week’s episode, BPC Senior Advisor Theresa Cardinal Brown runs through the latest negotiations on Capitol Hill for a potential border security deal. If Congress fails to reach a deal, we could see a government shutdown. Then, Theresa and BPC Senior Policy Analyst Jack Malde interview Lindsay Milliken, an immigration fellow at the Institute for Progress, who is lead author of a new report detailing a data-driven method to identify workforce shortages and update DOL’s Schedule A Shortage Occupation List. Institute for Progress Research Report: In this episode: (00:00) Opening (01:10) Theresa on the latest negotiations on border security (18:33) Lindsay Milliken on workforce shortages and Schedule A
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Ep. 160: Reporting on a Humanitarian Immigration Crisis in a Divided Political Context
12/19/2023
Ep. 160: Reporting on a Humanitarian Immigration Crisis in a Divided Political Context
In this week’s episode, BPC Senior Advisor Theresa Cardinal Brown chats with three exceptional national and local immigration reporters to understand what it’s like to cover immigration at a time of rising migration, increased humanitarian challenges, and a polarized political climate. Camilo Montoya-Galvez of CBS News, Maria Sacchetti of the Washington Post and Uriel Garcia of the Texas Tribune take us through their experiences covering national and local immigration developments over the past year, both on the ground and from a distance. Listen to hear all about the policy, politics, and humanity of covering immigration in the United States.
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Ep. 159: Four Distinguished Scholars on a Path Forward for Immigration Reform
12/05/2023
Ep. 159: Four Distinguished Scholars on a Path Forward for Immigration Reform
In this week’s episode, new host Jack Malde chats with four Distinguished Immigration Scholars at Cornell Law School on their new white paper “Immigration Reform: A Path Forward”. Stephen Yale-Loehr, Randel Keith Johnson, Charles Kamasaki, and BPC’s very own Theresa Cardinal Brown take us through important reforms to border management and asylum policy, worker programs, and DREAMer protections. While large, comprehensive immigration reform is unlikely to move forward in Congress soon, certain targeted reforms are both urgently needed and potentially achievable. Cornell Law School Migration & Human Rights Program: Cornell Law School Immigration Reform: A Path Forward white paper:
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Ep. 158: The Cost of Green Card Backlogs and Impending Population Decline
11/21/2023
Ep. 158: The Cost of Green Card Backlogs and Impending Population Decline
In this week’s episode, guest host Theresa Cardinal Brown and BPC Senior Policy Analyst Jack Malde discuss BPC’s new report which quantifies the tremendous economic benefits on offer if Congress were to act to clear green card backlogs. Then, Theresa and Jack discuss new projections from the Census Bureau which show that the U.S. population is set to begin declining in the second half of this century, underlining the importance of immigration for continued growth and prosperity.
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Ep. 157: Biden’s AI Executive Order and The Immigrant Superpower
11/07/2023
Ep. 157: Biden’s AI Executive Order and The Immigrant Superpower
In this week’s episode, host Hanadi Jordan and Theresa Cardinal Brown unpack President Biden’s recent Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the efforts of the administration to attract and retain AI talent. Then, we rebroadcast clips from a past interview with economist, veteran and scholar Tim Kane, who speaks about why America is “The Immigrant Superpower” (the title of his book) and how immigrants are vital for our national security.
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Ep. 156: Biden Forced to Build Border Wall and a Settlement for Separated Parents
10/24/2023
Ep. 156: Biden Forced to Build Border Wall and a Settlement for Separated Parents
Economic Policy Program Director and former OMB official Rachel Snyderman joins podcast host Hanadi Jordan and Senior Advisor Theresa Cardinal Brown to discuss President Biden's border wall plans and whether he was legally obligated to expand the wall under appropriations allocated in 2019. Then, Theresa covers the ACLU-Biden Administration’s settlement with the ACLU in a class action lawsuit over parent-child separations under then-President Trump’s “zero tolerance policy.”
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Ep. 155: Government Shutdowns and Funding the Immigration System (re-release)
10/10/2023
Ep. 155: Government Shutdowns and Funding the Immigration System (re-release)
Given recent efforts in Congress to avoid a government shutdown, this episode we are revisiting Episode 141 of This Week in Immigration, where Theresa Cardinal Brown and Laura Hall of BPC Action walk through the federal government's budget and appropriations process, how the immigration system is funded, and what happens in a government shutdown.
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Ep. 154: Rio Grande Buoys, NYC Mayor vs. Biden on migrants and work, and Government Shutdown and DHS
09/26/2023
Ep. 154: Rio Grande Buoys, NYC Mayor vs. Biden on migrants and work, and Government Shutdown and DHS
In this week’s episode, host Hanadi Jordan and Theresa Cardinal Brown discuss the federal government’s lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbot over anti-migrant buoys and the growing tensions between New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Biden administration concerning migrant arrivals. Then, the pair discuss what a government shutdown means for DHS.
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Ep. 153: The U.S.’ Aging Population and Immigration’s Vital Mediating Role
09/12/2023
Ep. 153: The U.S.’ Aging Population and Immigration’s Vital Mediating Role
Declining birth rates and an aging population present a serious demographic problem for the U.S. with long-term economic consequences. BPC Research Analyst Justis Antonioli and Associate Director of Economic Policy Ben Gitis join the podcast to discuss BPC’s latest report, , which examines research on the role of immigration in strengthening the labor force and supporting the economy. Then, podcast regular Theresa Cardinal Brown breaks down the Justice Department’s lawsuit against Space X over discriminatory hiring practices.
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Ep. 152: Legal Immigration Reform - Challenges and Promising Paths Forward
08/31/2023
Ep. 152: Legal Immigration Reform - Challenges and Promising Paths Forward
On today’s episode, we feature audio from our most recent event on challenges with the current legal immigration system and potential pathways for reform. Moderated by Bloomberg Law’s Andrew Kreighbaum, Jon Baselice with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Martin Kim with Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, David Bier with Cato Institute, and Dip Patel with Improve The Dream assess issues raised by the system’s current status quo and share their best ideas for reform.
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Ep. 151: Rep. Carbajal on the Protect Patriot Parents Act
08/15/2023
Ep. 151: Rep. Carbajal on the Protect Patriot Parents Act
In this episode we welcome Representative Salud Carbajal to tell us all about his bipartisan bill, the Protect Patriot Parents Act, which would make parents of U.S. military service members eligible for green cards, preventing potential deportations or separations of military families. After this, podcast regular Theresa Cardinal Brown breaks down the latest border numbers and recent Biden administration restrictions on who is eligible to apply for asylum.
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Episode 150: This Week in Immigration
08/01/2023
Episode 150: This Week in Immigration
To mark a very special podcast milestone—our 150th episode—podcast regular Theresa Cardinal Brown sits down with Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) to discuss the Dignity Act. Then, Theresa and host Hanadi Jordan reflect on six years of the podcast. Featuring clips from some of our favorite episodes, we cover the highlights, the challenges, and hopes for the future!
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Episode 149: This Week in Immigration
07/18/2023
Episode 149: This Week in Immigration
In this edition, Julie Stufft, deputy assistant secretary for visa services at the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the State Department, walks listeners through life in visa services. Joined by podcast regular Theresa Cardinal Brown, Stuff covers her career in the State Department, current challenges in visa services, and recent reports of State Department efforts to streamline visa applications for Indian nationals.
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Episode 148: This Week in Immigration
07/04/2023
Episode 148: This Week in Immigration
Having trouble keeping up with key immigration litigation? This latest episode of TWII has you covered with another edition of The Gavel! Joined by podcast regular Theresa Cardinal Brown, Cornell Law Professor breaks down the Supreme Court’s latest decision to uphold the Biden administration’s deportation priorities in . Then, both podcast guests walk listeners through upcoming cases concerning the future of the DACA program and the administration’s new asylum restrictions.
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Episode 147: This Week in Immigration
06/20/2023
Episode 147: This Week in Immigration
To mark graduation season, we’re covering immigrants and higher education this episode. Miriam Feldblum, executive director of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, joins to discuss the Presidents’ Alliance and the concerns of higher education institutions regarding immigrant students and scholars. Then, podcast regular Theresa Cardinal Brown provides an update on the border post-Title 42, and why the numbers of encounters aren’t what many predicted.
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Episode 146: This Week in Immigration
06/06/2023
Episode 146: This Week in Immigration
Today, we sit down with , vice president of immigration policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the Chamber’s recently launched which calls for both border and legal immigration reform. Then, as we start summer and all the activities that go along with it, podcast regular Theresa Cardinal Brown walks listeners through who seasonal workers are, the visa process these workers rely on, and challenges in meeting the workforce needs of seasonal employers.
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Episode 145: This Week in Immigration
05/22/2023
Episode 145: This Week in Immigration
On today’s episode, we examine the pause on nursing visa applications, overall health care workforce issues, and the impact of these challenges on the health care industry. Lisa Harootunian, BPC associate director of health policy, joins alongside “This Week” regular Theresa Cardinal Brown to break down the workforce shortage and how immigration can be part of the solution.
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Episode 144: This Week in Immigration
05/09/2023
Episode 144: This Week in Immigration
How do immigrants support U.S. competitiveness? On today’s episode, we recap our , “National Security and Competitiveness: Can Skilled Immigration Help?” with audio from the webinar. Our panel includes Kai Hirabayashi, senior manager of public policy at Amazon, Divanysh Kaushik, associate director at the Federation of American Scientists, Margaret Stock, attorney at Cascadia Cross-Border Law Group, and BPC’s Dane Stangler, director of strategic initiatives.
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Episode 143: This Week in Immigration
04/25/2023
Episode 143: This Week in Immigration
We mark the end of tax season with a discussion on taxes and immigrants—do undocumented immigrants file taxes and, if so, how and why? We cover the consequences and challenges for undocumented immigrants who file and what policy changes have been proposed to address the issue. Then, we catch listeners up on the latest news in the immigration world, from the return to pre-pandemic levels of U.S. immigration to new border bills from House Republicans to the impending expiration of Title 42.
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Episode 142: This Week In Immigration
04/10/2023
Episode 142: This Week In Immigration
On today’s episode, we are joined by CBC reporter Verity Stevenson and podcast regular Theresa Cardinal Brown to discuss the Safe Third Country Agreement between the U.S. and Canada. We discuss what the policy is, how it’s impacting migrants, and why it has elicited so much controversy as it awaits its fate in the Canadian court system.
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Episode 141: This Week in Immigration
03/27/2023
Episode 141: This Week in Immigration
On this week’s episode, host Hanadi Jordan speaks with Theresa Cardinal Brown and BPC Action Managing Director Laura Hall about the president’s budget, the budget and appropriations process and why it matters for immigration policy, as well as the details of what President Biden proposed for immigration. Is there a federal budget for “immigration” as a whole? What makes it so hard for Congress to pass the federal budget on time? And will the divided Congress support President Biden’s immigration priorities? Theresa and Laura break it all down.
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Episode 140: This Week In Immigration
03/14/2023
Episode 140: This Week In Immigration
On this week’s episode Theresa Cardinal Brown fills in for Hanadi Jordan who is out this week. We dive into the state of the American workforce and how immigration plays into it with Ben Gitis, the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Associate Director for economic and workforce policy. We talk about a recent Morning Consult for BPC on high-skilled immigration, the latest from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the state of employment, unemployment and how we define labor shortages. We also talk about immigrants in the labor force, high-skilled and lesser skilled immigration, and what may be keeping immigrants and Americans from getting back into the labor market post-COVID.
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