Time to Pass the Afghan Adjustment Act
Congress should grant permanent residency to Afghans who came to the US fleeing the fall of their country to the brutal Taliban regime.
Refugees
Amicus Brief Defending Legality of Immigration Parole Program for Migrants Fleeing Socialism, Oppression, and Violence in Four Latin American Nations
The program extends the successful Uniting for Ukraine policy to migrants fleeing Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Haiti.
Judge Blocks Biden Administration's Strict Asylum Restrictions
Plus: Digital rights groups protest "bad internet bills," the FTC might be readying another lawsuit against Amazon, and more...
Let Asylum-Seeking Migrants Work
Taking this step would benefit both the migrants themselves and the American economy. It would also eliminate burdens on local governments.
C-SPAN Video of Cato Institute Event on the Private Sponsorship Revolution in Immigration Policy
Participants included Prof. Adam Cox (NYU), David Bier (Cato), Kit Taintor (Welcome.US), and myself.
World Refugee Day is a Good Time to Consider Expanding the Ridiculously Narrow Legal Definition of "Refugee"
The definition excludes a vast range of people fleeing horrific violence and oppression.
Upcoming Cato Institute Event on the Private Sponsorship Revolution in Immigration Policy
Participants include Prof. Adam Cox (NYU), David Bier (Cato), Kit Taintor (Welcome.US), and myself.
More Evidence that Biden's Private Sponsorship Migrant Parole Policy Reduced Illegal Migration by Making the Legal Kind Easier
A new study by the conservative Manhattan Institute concludes that the expansion of private sponsorship parole to migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela has reduced illegal migration across the southern border by about 98,000 per month.
Do the Natcons Get Anything Right?
Plus: A listener asks if the Roundtable has given the arguments of those opposed to low-skilled immigration a fair hearing.
There Is No Party of Immigration in American Politics
Plus: A listener question concerning the key to a libertarian future—should we reshape current systems or rely upon technological exits like bitcoin and encryption?
Is Biden Replacing Bad Border Policy With Worse Border Policy?
Plus: Schools suing social media companies, a bitcoin mining tax is a bad idea, and more...
The End of Title 42 Expulsions of Migrants—and What Comes Next
Title 42 expulsions caused great harm for very little benefit. Biden plans to replace them with a combination of policies, some good and some very bad.
Biden Administration Plans to Extend Residency and Work Permits for Afghans Who Came to US Under Parole Status
The policy will protect thousands of Afghan refugees against imminent prospect of deportation. Same should be done for Ukrainians and others admitted to US using the parole power. But a permanent solution to this problem requires Congress to pass an adjustment act.
Non-Paywalled Version of My Boston Globe Article Making the Case for Legislation Granting Permanent Residency Rights to Ukrainian Migrants and Others Admitted by Using the President's Parole Power
It has been reprinted (with permission) by the Cato Institute.
My New Boston Globe Article on the Urgent Need to Pass Legislation Granting Permanent Residency Rights to Ukrainian Migrants and Others Admitted by Using the President's Parole Power
This can easily be accomplished by Congess enacting an adjustment act.
US Accepted 271,000 Ukrainians Over the Last Year—But Can Do Much Better
It's an impressive achievement. But we can do much more. Canada's much greater openness to immigration is an indication of what's possible.
Want To Beat China? Let in More Chinese!
More immigration from China would both hobble a geopolitical rival and make America richer and better.
The U.S. Took in 271,000 Ukrainian Refugees in a Year. It Can Handle More.
What we did for Ukrainians, we could do for other migrants too.
Biden's New Trump-Lite Asylum Policy Proposal
It's less bad than Trump-era efforts along the same lines. But saying that is damning with faint praise.
A Year of Writings on the Russia-Ukraine War
A compilation of my work on this topic, on the one-year anniversary of the start of Vladimir Putin's attempt to conquer Ukraine.
Why Congress Should Pass a Ukrainian Adjustment Act
Giving recent Ukrainian refugees the right to permanent residency in the US will avert potential tragedy for them, and benefit the US economy.
National Conservatives Can't Find a Good Excuse for Viktor Orbán's Inflation Disaster
Hungary's inflation hits 24.5 percent—the highest in the European Union—and Orbán's price controls aren't helping.
A Historic Refugee Crisis Miscast As a Border Emergency
Providing legal ways to work or seek protection in America is the only viable way to reduce illegal immigration.
Twenty Red States File Badly Flawed Lawsuit Seeking to Terminate Private Sponsorship Program for People Fleeing Socialism and Oppression in Four Latin American Nations
The flaws in the states' position are revealed by their own governors' statements about the evils of socialism and the crisis at the border.
Canada Grants Refugee Status to Russian Fleeing Conscription
Western nations should adopt a general policy of granting refuge to Russians seeking to avoid conscription, and otherwise fleeing Vladimir Putin's increasingly repressive regime.
Biden Administration Announces New Private Refugee Sponsorship Program
The program differs in several ways from Uniting for Ukraine and other previous private migrant sponsorship policies.
America's Refugee Resettlement Process Is Broken. Now Private Citizens Can Help Fix It.
A new State Department initiative will let American citizens sponsor refugees fleeing danger.
Video of Amanpour & Co. TV Interview on Uniting for Ukraine and Private Refugee Sponsorship
The interview covers the Uniting for Ukraine program, the expansion of private refugee sponsorship to cover migrants from elsewhere, and various potential objections to these policies.
Addressing Some Common Questions and Misconceptions About Uniting for Ukraine and Other Private Migrant Sponsorship Programs
Responses to some of the most common queries I have gotten.
Assessing Biden's New Immigration Policies
Analysts differ on whether their net impact is more pro-immigration or more restrictionist. On balance, I think the former is closer to the truth. But there is some uncertainty here.
Biden Expands Uniting for Ukraine Private Refugee Sponsorship Model to Include up to 30,000 Migrants Per Month from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Haiti
The move is a step in the right direction. But it has limitations and is combined with harmful "border enforcement" measures.
My New Washington Post Article on the Uniting for Ukraine Private Refugee Sponsorship Program
The article explains why the progam is a major improvement over previous policies, and how it can be further improved and made a model for refugee policy generally.
Is Biden Playing a Double Game on Title 42 "Public Health" Expulsions of Migrants?
The Administration claims to want to end the policy. But, as Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell points out, it is actually expanding its use.
Review: When Americans Turned Their Backs on Holocaust Refugees
The U.S. and the Holocaust condemns anti-refugee policies of the World War II era.
David Bier on "What Biden Has Gotten Right on Immigration Policy"
There is much to criticize in Biden's record on immigration issues. But the administration has also made some major improvements.
Uniting for Ukraine Private Refugee Sponsorship Program Breaks Through Bureaucratic Red Tape
In sharp contrast to the sclerotic traditional refugee admissions program, the new private refugee sponsorship program enables Ukrainians fleeing war and repression to enter the US quickly and relatively easily. As a participating sponsor myself, I have firsthand knowledge of its effectiveness.
Give Biden Credit for Bolstering Private Refugee Resettlement
Uniting for Ukraine, a program providing private support to displaced Ukrainians, has proved more effective than the government's own resettlement efforts.
Saving Nezam From the Taliban
Green Beret Scott Mann suffered severe trauma following his three tours in Afghanistan. He never wanted to have anything to do with country again. Then his friend Nezam called to say that his life was in danger.
Closing a Bureaucratic Loophole that Harms Ukrainian Refugees
A easy-to-remedy snafu in the government's Uniting for Ukraine program is exposing some Ukrainian migrants to deportation and preventing others from working legally in the United States.
'We Have No Hope for the Future': The Afghan Helpers America Left Behind
One year after the U.S. withdrawal, tens of thousands of Afghans who assisted American forces are still stuck under Taliban rule.
Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act To Help Afghan Evacuees Stay in the U.S.
But thousands of Afghans who helped U.S. forces are still stuck in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
The Rise of Private Refugee Sponsorship
The Uniting for Ukraine program and other new initiatives may open the door to a broader role for private citizens in sponsoring refugees.
Fiona Harrigan: Why Utah Republicans Bucked Trump and Biden on Afghan Refugees
Assistant Editor Fiona Harrigan explores why the Beehive State might be uniquely suited to welcome Afghan refugees.
Thousands of Lawsuits Have Been Filed Over Wait Times, Backlogs at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
While staffing up may alleviate the bottleneck, no amount of employees can keep the country's bad immigration system from working as designed.
My New Washington Post Article Making Case for US Adoption of Canadian-Style System of Private Refugee Sponsorship
We can adapt the and improve the Canadian program, which is far better than current sclerotic US system. Coauthored with Sabine El-Chidiac.
Utah Wants To Help Afghan Refugees Prosper. Will the Federal Government Get in the Way?
The federal government set the tone on the beginning of the resettlement process. It continues to keep legal status for certain evacuees out of reach.
Biden Extends Temporary Status for Some Venezuelan Refugees, Offers No Protections for Recent Arrivals
While Temporary Protected Status will last through 2024, only Venezuelans who arrived before March 2021 will be eligible.
The Case for Expanding the Legal Definition of "Refugee"
The narrow definition allows governments to expel numerous migrants fleeing violence, terrorism, forced labor, and other severe oppression.