Parsing Immigration Policy

Center for Immigration Studies
  • 4.3 (47)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Parsing Immigration Policy

A weekly discussion of immigration policy matters, both immediate and long-term, with researchers from the Center for Immigration Studies and guests.The Center for Immigration Studies is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit, research organization. Since our founding in 1985 by Otis Graham Jr., we have pursued a single mission – providing immigration policymakers, the academic community, news media, and concerned citizens with reliable information about the social, economic, environmental, security, and fiscal consequences of legal and illegal immigration into the United States. Listen to all episodes of Parsing Immigration Policy at Ricochet.com.

  1. 5D AGO

    Enhancing National Security: CIS Vetting Failure Database

    This week’s episode of Parsing Immigration Policy reminds listeners of the threats that made President Trump's recent Executive Order, "Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats," necessary. The Center for Immigration Studies maintains a comprehensive database detailing examples of preventable federal government vetting failures which resulted in the entry of individuals who posed a threat to national security. Todd Bensman, the Center’s national security fellow, has recently added new cases into the database, highlighting the need for the improvement of U.S. vetting processes. “The Center’s database offers valuable insights for preventing future threats,” said Bensman. “I hope this crucial tool for understanding past failures will be useful to the Trump administration’s renewed robust security vetting efforts.” Key Highlights: Purpose: The database identifies fail points in the complex immigration security screening system, providing insights for homeland security agencies and congressional overseers to strengthen future vetting processes. Analysis: Each entry includes an after-action report detailing what went wrong, offering lessons to improve future vetting procedures. Users can access all primary research materials used in the analyses. Notable Cases Highlighted: The database contains over 50 entries revealing the entry of foreign threat actors, including a Brazilian ex-police officer who had committed mass murder; a Bosnian war criminal who ran prison camps and was involved in brutal interrogations, torturing, and the killing of inmates; and an Egyptian student who was involved in a plot to bomb the Israeli embassy. Historical Context: The 9/11 attacks prompted a comprehensive overhaul of U.S. immigration vetting processes. The year 2008 was chosen as the starting date for collecting vetting failure cases on the assumption that the first series of 9/11 visa vetting reforms would have fully vested by then and because significant new process improvements were implemented that year. In his closing commentary, Mark Krikorian, the Center's executive director and podcast host, highlights President Trump's success in securing the border, achieving the lowest level of apprehensions recorded in history. Will this administration and future administrations stay vigilant? Host Mark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies Guest Todd Bensman is a National Security Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies. Related Database: National Security Vetting Failures Egyptian Student Added to CIS National Security Vetting Failures Database Afghan Evacuee Added to CIS National Security Vetting Database Brazilian Mass Murderer Who Slipped through U.S. Vetting Three Times Is Added to CIS Database Panel: A New Database of Vetting Failures Commonplace: They Said It Couldn't Be Done a...

    40 min

  2. FEB 27

    Implications of Labeling Cartels as Terrorist Groups

    The latest episode of the Center for Immigration Studies podcast series features guest host Senior National Security Fellow Todd Bensman in conversation with Jaeson Jones, a leading expert on Mexican cartels and a border correspondent. This timely discussion highlights the recent designation of six Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) by the Trump administration and the multifaceted approach by all levels of government that this permits, allowing the U.S. to combat the cartels in sync with the Mexican government. Key topics covered include: Evolution of Mexican Cartels: Exploration of how Mexican cartels, now in 65 countries around the world, have transitioned from organized crime syndicates to parallel governments in Mexico, exhibiting extreme violence and governmental infiltration. Advocacy for FTO Designation: Discussion on Jones’ rationale for advocating for the FTO designation, emphasizing the need for enhanced legal frameworks to effectively combat the rapid and violent operations of cartels. Strategic Framework Post-Designation: Analysis of the comprehensive approach required to dismantle cartel networks, underscoring the necessity for coordinated efforts across all branches of government. Implications of FTO Status: Examination of the potential outcomes of the FTO designation, including: Revocation of visas for individuals associated with designated cartels.Inclusion of cartel affiliates on no-fly lists.Enhanced capabilities to target and seize financial assets linked to cartel operations.Addressing Fentanyl Trafficking: Strategies to combat the smuggling of fentanyl, focusing on disrupting supply chains originating from countries such as China, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, and addressing the corruption within Mexico that facilitates these operations. Game Changer: Prediction by Jones – With the FTO designation, the number of lives we can now save is unprecedented. In his closing commentary, Bensman highlights the recent agreement between Mexico and the United States, in which Mexico will deploy 10,000 additional troops to the border, and the United States will assist in intercepting American guns that end up in cartel hands. However, Bensman notes a lack of reliable evidence supporting the claim that most of the cartels’ firearms come from U.S. gun stores. The cartels have, for years, equipped themselves with military-grade weapons from Mexico’s own corrupt military and from the armories of corrupt officials in Central American and South American nations. Host Todd Bensman is a National Security Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies. Guest Jaeson Jones is an expert on Mexican cartels and a border correspondent. Related Jaeson Jones Website Jaeson Jones on X American Guns Are Not to Blame for Mexico’s Cartel Problem Intro Montage Voices in the opening montage: Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016...

    35 min

  3. FEB 20

    Immigration Under Trump: A Conversation with Victor Davis Hanson

    In the latest episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, Victor Davis Hanson, a Hoover Institution fellow, discusses the changes in U.S. immigration policy under President Trump with Mark Krikorian, the Center for Immigration Studies’ executive director. The discussion begins with acknowledging how the political landscape for Trump 2.0 differs greatly from the first Trump administration, giving President Trump maneuvering room to make major immigration policy changes. Key topics include: Border Enforcement & Deportation:A comparison of President Trump’s 2021 and 2025 immigration policies.The wisdom of Trump’s “worst first” deportation strategy.Over the last four years the composition of the illegal immigration population has changed to include a larger number of nationalities besides Mexicans. Will this weaken the cohesive lobbying effort to fight deportations?Birthright Citizenship & Legal Challenges:Trump’s executive order addressing birthright citizenship.Predictions on the potential Supreme Court battle and legislative efforts.U.S.-Mexico Relations & Economic Impact:Mexico’s shifting stance on immigration.Mexican public opinion turns against mass migration.Trump’s potential tariff and remittance restrictions as leverage.Immigration & Fertility Rates:Declining U.S. birth rates and state-level trends.Can immigration raise the national fertility rate and achieve replacement level?Immigration’s impact on native fertility.In his closing commentary, Mark Krikorian, the podcast host, highlights a new Center report, The Declining Education Level of Newly Arrived Immigrants, which finds a decline in the education level of newly arrived (the past three years) immigrants. The decline, which added greatly to the low-income population, is in stark contrast to the steady improvement in the education level in the years prior to the border surge. Host Mark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies. Guest Victor Davis Hanson is a Fellow at the Hoover Institution. Related VictorHanson.com Trump Issues Birthright Citizenship Executive Order The Declining Education Level of Newly Arrived Immigrants Intro Montage Voices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

    33 min

  4. FEB 13

    Diplomatic Efforts to Strengthen Border Security

    The latest episode of Parsing Immigration Policy highlights the diplomatic initiatives supporting U.S. border security that have been undertaken by the Trump administration. Phillip Linderman, a retired State Department senior Foreign Service Officer and a Center for Immigration Studies board member, discusses actions recently taken by President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio that promote structured and lawful migration and seek to put an end to the global migration chaos. Key points: International Cooperation on Deportations – Countries such as Colombia, El Salvador, Venezuela, and Mexico have agreed to accept the return of their citizens, signaling a shift in regional migration policies. Changing U.S. Policy – The U.S. has fundamentally changed its stance, no longer encouraging unchecked migration but instead promoting legal and orderly processes. Diplomatic Leverage – The threat of tariffs and the use of tools such as Section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which allows the U.S. to suspend visas for countries refusing to accept deportees, has proven effective in securing cooperation. Mexico’s Role – Mexico has agreed to deploy 10,000 Mexican National Guard troops to combat human trafficking and drug smuggling at the border. El Salvador’s Role – Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has offered to accept U.S. deportees of any nationality. Gitmo’s Role – Trump will open Guantanamo Bay to alien detainees. Economic & Political Factors – Countries reliant on remittances, such as El Salvador and Venezuela, are having to balance economic interests with security cooperation. Global Implications – The discussion explores the idea of an international migration summit and the need for updated legal frameworks outside traditional organizations like the UN. Host Jessica Vaughan is the Director of Policy Studies at the Center for Immigration Studies. Guest Phillip Linderman is a retired State Department senior Foreign Service Officer and a Center for Immigration Studies board member. Related El Salvador, Guatemala deals key to Trump deportation promises Trump Tariffs and Border SecurityMigrants Sent to Gitmo, India, and Potentially Venezuela Colombia's President Tests Trump on Migrant Returns, Quickly Backs Down Trump Dares to Send Criminal Aliens Back to Their New Home, Down by the (Guantanamo) Bay State Department Can Lead on Fighting Illegal Immigration and Promoting Border Security Intro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar...

    39 min

  5. FEB 6

    The Truth About ‘Skilled’ Immigration

    The latest episode of “Parsing Immigration Policy” highlights skilled immigration policies, their impact, and ways to improve the legal immigration programs. Featuring Dr. Norman Matloff, emeritus professor at UC Davis and a leading expert on the H-1B visa program, this episode breaks down how current policies are reshaping the U.S. labor market, undercutting American workers, and benefiting major tech companies at the expense of bringing the true “best and brightest” to the U.S. Key topics covered: The H-1B Visa System: Why America’s leading tech companies, like Intel and Google, are more harmful than the “body shops” that contract out cheap foreign labor. The Green Card Process: The green card process is badly flawed. How sponsorship by big tech artificially expands the workforce, limiting opportunities and lowering wages for Americans. The Myth of “Best and Brightest”: The reality behind claims that H-1B visa holders are exceptional talents—and how companies game the system. How can true talent be identified. Age Discrimination & Wage Suppression: How H-1B policies favor entry-level workers, leading to lost expertise and lower salaries in STEM fields. Foreign Students & Green Cards: Are we admitting too many? How universities exploit foreign student labor and what changes are needed. Fixing the System: Ideas for reform, options explored include limiting green cards to top PhDs, implementing merit-based testing, numerical caps on students Host Mark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies. Guest Norm Matloff is an emeritus professor at UC Davis. Related How the H-1B System Undercuts American Workers Norman Matloff on the H-1B Program and Related Issues Why Legal Immigration Numbers Matter Does America Need More Foreign Tech Workers, No To Get the ‘Best and Brightest’ H-1B Workers, the US Must Reform the Program Musk Is Right About H-1Bs A Look Behind the Curtain at One H-1B Body Shop Intro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

    45 min

  6. JAN 30

    Trump’s Immigration Executive Orders Explained

    Immigration was a defining issue in Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, and within his first week in office, he took swift action to fulfill his promises. In this week’s episode of Parsing Immigration Policy podcast, Center for Immigration Studies experts analyze the nine immigration-related Executive Orders issued in his first week in office, shaping the direction of U.S. immigration policy. Andrew Arthur, Fellow in Law and Policy, and Elizabeth Jacobs, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Policy, provide an in-depth breakdown and analysis of these executive actions and their broader impact on immigration policy. As the administration continues to roll out new immigration policies, the Center for Immigration Studies will provide ongoing expert analysis and updates.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies. Guests Andrew Arthur is a Fellow in Law and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies. Elizabeth Jacobs is the Director of Regulatory Affairs and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies. Related Bullet summaries of the nine executive orders Additional CIS research and analysis on these policies Intro Montage Voices in the opening montage: Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

    47 min

  7. JAN 23

    The Role of Immigration Detention and Why It is Needed

    As President Donald Trump and Border Czar Tom Homan begin their promised deportations, the latest episode of Parsing Immigration Policy discusses immigration detention - a key element in immigration enforcement. Andrew Arthur, the Center’s Fellow in Law and Policy and a former immigration judge, details the purpose, history, and availability of immigration detention resources. Key Points:Civil, Not Criminal: Immigration detention is not a punishment but is instead a safeguard to ensure that aliens appear in court and for removal.Historical Context: Detention provisions trace back to at least the Immigration Act of 1903, steadily expanding from inadmissible aliens being detained at the ports of entry to include those entering illegally as well as for criminal aliens.Growing Need: With over 1.4 million individuals awaiting removal and a 34% no-show rate in immigration court, expanding detention capacity will become crucial to President Trump’s immigration-enforcement efforts.Detention Options: ICE facilities, private contractors, and state prisons and county jails can all house detainees. The episode examines Biden-era restrictions aimed at restricting detention space.Alternative Space: From utilizing military bases to reinstituting “Remain in Mexico” policies, the new administration should not have a problem finding adequate detention space. Host Mark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies. Guest Andrew Arthur is a Fellow in Law and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies. Related GAO: One-Third of Immigration Court Aliens are No-Shows U.S. Senate Testimony: Remain in Mexico Intro Montage Voices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

    40 min

  8. JAN 16

    Panel Podcast: Beyond the Border - Why Legal Immigration Numbers Matter

    The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) hosted a panel to discuss the importance of immigration numbers, legal and illegal, and their impact on wages, the labor market, and the future of the American workforce. This timely panel, "Beyond the Border: Why Legal Immigration Numbers Matter," builds on the social media debate sparked by Elon Musk’s recent comment highlighting the need for more legal immigration and seeks to heighten awareness of the impact of legal immigration – both high-skilled and low-skilled. Host Mark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies. Guests Introduction by: Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) Steven Camarota, Director of Research, CIS (slides) Michael Lind, Fellow at New America and author of, among others, Hell to Pay: How the Suppression of Wages is Destroying America. Hal Salzman, Rutgers University, specializing in STEM labor markets and workforce development. (slides) Related Panel Press Release Panel Transcript Panel Video  Steven Camarota's Presentation Hal Salzman's Presentation Oped by Hal Salzman: Two Simple Reforms Can Make H-1B Visas Great Again Intro Montage Voices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

    52 min
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4.3
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

A weekly discussion of immigration policy matters, both immediate and long-term, with researchers from the Center for Immigration Studies and guests.The Center for Immigration Studies is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit, research organization. Since our founding in 1985 by Otis Graham Jr., we have pursued a single mission – providing immigration policymakers, the academic community, news media, and concerned citizens with reliable information about the social, economic, environmental, security, and fiscal consequences of legal and illegal immigration into the United States. Listen to all episodes of Parsing Immigration Policy at Ricochet.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Center for Immigration Studies
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    196
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Center for Immigration Studies
  • Show Website
    Parsing Immigration Policy

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