House Passes New Human Trafficking Bill
Here's what's in the $1 billion reauthorization package.
Immigration
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.
55% of America's Top Startups Were Founded by Immigrants. Why Won't Congress Let in More?
Without a tenable visa pathway, immigrant entrepreneurs will look to greener pastures—and the American economy will be worse for it.
For the First Time, Supreme Court Splits 5-4 Along Gender Lines
The Court denied the Biden's request for a stay of a lower court injunction against new immigration enforcement guidelines.
The Political Strategy of "Making the Other Side Better"
Economist Tyler Cowen argues this approach is too often neglected. But is more common than he suggests.
Why Do Travelers to the U.S. Have To Wait an Average of 247 Days for Their Visa Interviews?
The State Department's network of consulates are keeping tourists and business travelers in limbo.
Better Immigration Laws Could Help Lower Food Prices
The Senate is considering legislation that would improve the visa program for temporary agricultural workers and help relieve labor shortages that push food prices higher.
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.
New Wave of Russian Emigration is an Opportunity for the West—but one we Seem Likely to Flub
Opening the door to Russians fleeing Putin is the right thing to do on both moral and pragmatic grounds.
Cato Institute Files Lawsuit Seeking Release of Report Used to Justify Trump's Anti-Muslim Travel Ban
The contents of the report may well prove the Trump Administration tried to deceive the courts.
Did Joe Manchin Just Sink Biden's 'Build Back Better' Plan Again?
Plus: Why government responses to risk can create more harm than good, why Denver will no longer block illegal immigrants from starting businesses, and more...
Keeping Out Hitler: Can Immigration Restrictions be Justified by the Need to Exclude Individuals who Might Cause Extraordinary Harm?
Critics of immigration restrictions often cite immigrants who make extraordinary contributions to the society. But what about the opposite case of immigrants who cause massive harm (like Hitler)? The argument deserves to be taken seriously. But it's ultimately much weaker than it seems.
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.
Once These Legal Immigrants Turn 21, They Face Deportation
With action from Congress, over 200,000 dependent visa holders could see some relief.
Renegade District Attorneys Who Defy State Mandates Are Often Freedom's Last Line of Defense
Perhaps, as we relearn the virtues of local decision-making, we'll also reacquire a taste for individualism.
Mobility as the Key to Immigrant Success
An important new study finds that immigrants and their children succeed in large part by being more willing to move to opportunity than the native-born.
Border Patrol Launched a Surveillance Blimp Over Nogales, Arizona. Town Officials Didn't Know.
Residents of Nogales are now under the gaze of a round-the-clock surveillance craft.
Title 42 Expulsions Made the Border Less Secure
The Trump administration invoked Title 42 in late March 2020. Biden repeatedly extended it. Now, a federal judge has blocked the administration from lifting the order.
Revised Version of My New Article on "Immigration and the Economic Liberty of Natives"
The article is now up on SSRN. It explains how migration restrictions have massive negative effects on both "negative" and "positive" economic liberty of residents of destination countries.
Thoughts on the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution
A compendium of some of my previous writings on these topics, which I hope remain relevant today.
America's Founders Raged Against Qualified Immunity, Trade Restrictions, and Anti-Immigrant Policies
Hey, we're still mad about those things today!
Supreme Court Ruling in "Remain in Mexico" Case is a Win for Biden, Migrants—and Fans of Presidential Power
The ruling likely allows end of a cruel policy - but also reinforces broad presidential control over immigration.
'Prevention Through Deterrence' Is How You Get 53 Dead Migrants in the Back of a Truck
The men, women, and children found dead in a tractor-trailer this week were just the latest casualties of an immigration approach that encourages dangerous journeys.
Supreme Court Gives Biden Administration a (Temporary?) Win on Immigration with Final Decision of Term
Chief Justice Roberts final opinion of the term rejects the statutory challenge to the Biden Administration's rescission of the "Remain in Mexico" policy.
Biden Can End 'Remain in Mexico' Border Policy, Says SCOTUS
Scrapping the policy is an important step in restoring a fair asylum-seeking process.
Dangers Faced by Illegal Migrants are Caused by Immigration Restrictions
The tragic recent deaths of some 50 migrants in Texas highlights the dangers they face. But those dangers are the products of laws making legal immigration difficult or impossible for most who want to do it.
California Fights Inflation by Sending People Free Money
Plus: A New Hampshire distiller fights invasive species by turning them into whiskey, a New York City law letting non-citizens vote is overturned, and more...
Greg Abbott Spent $1,400 a Head To Bus Migrants to D.C. for a Political Stunt
Texas taxpayers might be stuck footing the hefty bill for Abbott's busing scheme.
Ron DeSantis' Immigration Crackdown Could Prove Costly
A new directive could impose a hefty financial burden on state taxpayers and reduce community trust toward police.
Supreme Court Makes It Effectively Impossible To Sue Federal Cops, Smashing a 51-Year-Old Precedent
A federal badge will now serve as an impenetrable shield against civil liability.
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.
This Political Dissident Faces Death Threats if He Goes Back to Nicaragua. Why Was His Asylum Claim Denied?
Nicaraguan government operatives threatened Mario Rajib Flores Molina with torture and imprisonment. A new court ruling has revived his pursuit of asylum in the United States.
Open the Door to Chinese Migrants Fleeing Brutal Covid Lockdowns
Taking this step is both a moral imperative, and the right way to advance US economic and strategic interests.
The 10th Anniversary of DACA
A compendium of my writings defending the morality and legality of this program - but also warning that it remains imperiled unless and until Congress passes a law institutionalizing it.
Chief Justice Roberts Explains DIG of Public Charge Case
The Supreme Court has decided not to decide an important question relating to flips in federal policy when Administrations turn over.
Biden's Summit of the Americas Was Over Before It Started
Biden's decision to exclude nondemocratic countries led to a boycott by allies.
America's Harsh Immigration Restrictions Mean Haitians Drown Trying To Get Here
Their deaths are the tragic, predictable consequence of shutting down safer migration paths.
El Salvador's Latest Gang Crackdown Includes Human Rights Violations
President Nayib Bukele is using brutal tools to solve a problem driven partly by U.S. immigration policy.
Over 45,000 Americans Have Applied To Sponsor Displaced Ukrainians
In just over a month, the Uniting for Ukraine private sponsorship program has attracted huge support.
The Somin Family's D-Day
June 6 is not only the anniversary of D-Day, but also of the Somin family's arrival in America, back in 1979. This post reprints my reflections on that milestone, which I hope remain relevant today.
Tucker Carlson's Great Replacement Theory Is Spectacularly Wrong
Republicans have thrived since Ronald Reagan granted amnesty to 2.7 million mostly Mexican illegal immigrants in 1986.
A Double Standard Between Ukrainian and Afghan Refugees?
Critics allege, with some justice, that the Biden Administration is treating the former more favorably than the latter. If so, the right solution is to increase openness to Afghans and others fleeing war and repression, not bar more Ukrainians.
Court Won't Let CDC End Migrant Expulsion Order Just Yet
Plus: Book bans come for Barnes & Noble, a blow to SEC enforcement power, and more...
Strict U.S. Immigration Laws Leave Migrants Dependent on Human Smugglers
Human smugglers at Mexican border won’t be sought after if migrants can come to the U.S. legally.
