Does the Risk of Terrorism Justify Migration Restrictions?
My essay for the German Verfassungsblog site, explains why the answer to that question is generally "no."
Immigration
The U.S. Should Welcome Russians Who Don't Want To Fight Putin's War
Immigration policy has been used as a non-martial weapon of war before. Let’s do it again.
The Case for Opening Our Doors to Russians Fleeing Putin - as Well as Ukrainians
Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell explains how it can benefit the US economy while "draining Putin's brain."
My New Article on "Nondelegation Limits on COVID Emergency Powers: Lessons from the Eviction Moratorium and Title 42 Cases"
The eviction moratorium and Title 42 "public health" expulsion cases have many parallels that may have been ignored because of their differing ideological valence. Both strengthen the case for nondeferential judicial review of the exercise of emergency powers.
US and Canada Expand Admission of Ukrainian Refugees
But bureaucratic obstacles and other constraints might reduce the effectiveness of these policies. More needs to be done to open the door to Ukrainian refugees, and also to Russians fleeing Vladimir Putin's increasingly oppressive regime.
U.S. Plans To Welcome 100,000 Fleeing Ukrainians
Officials must ensure that America's lethargic refugee processing and lengthy family-based visa backlogs can effectively handle the people they seek to help.
CDC To Stop Using COVID as Excuse To Expel Unaccompanied Immigrant Minors
There are no public health gains from booting kids out of the country.
10 Million Ukrainians Have Been Displaced By the War. The U.S. Has Taken in 690 Ukrainian Refugees.
Plus: A Florida arms manufacturer is donating weapons to Ukraine's defense effort, China eases up on its "COVID Zero" policies, and Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation hearings begin today...
Risking Their Lives to Rescue Afghans Left Behind
Inside the volunteer effort to save the stranded men and women who worked with the U.S. military
Officials Won't Let Some Ukrainian and Russian Ship Crews Enter the U.S. Because They Might Try To Stay
Now is the time to welcome vulnerable Russians and Ukrainians, not turn them away.
Biden Administration To Protect Afghans in the U.S. From Deportation
Those already in the U.S. as of March 15 may also work legally for the next 18 months.
Greenwashing Borders
For years, immigration restrictionists have borrowed arguments from the environmentalist fringe to make their case against allowing immigration to developed nations.
DC Circuit Issues Mixed Decision in Title 42 "Public Health" Expulsion Case
The court ruled the CDC can continue to use its public health power to expel migrants, but not to countries where they are likely to face persecution or torture.
Court Says U.S. Cannot Expel Migrant Families to Countries Where They Face Harm
A federal judge wrote that migrants could face "horrific consequences" if expelled to certain places, particularly Mexico and Central American countries.
More on Offering Asylum to Russian Soldiers Who Surrender in Ukraine
The idea has gained additional adherents, and there are various proposals on how to implement it.
Two Interviews on Migration Rights, Foot Voting, and the War in Ukraine
Recordings of recent interviews on these topics with T.J. O'Hara for the Deconstructed podcast, and Areva Martin on her talk show program, Special Report.
The Sex-Ad Law FOSTA Was a Mistake. Some Lawmakers Want to Fix It.
The SAFE SEX Workers Study Act would look at the impact of FOSTA and the seizure of sites like Backpage and Rentboy.
My New York Times Article Making the Moral and Strategic Case for Accepting Ukrainian Refugees - and Russian Migrants, too
The article also addresses some potential objections.
Ukraine Can't Defend Its Freedom With an Army of Conscripts
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has barred men aged 18-60 from leaving the country.
How to Fight Putin by Offering Russians "a Million Little Carrots"
Defeating Putin is better accomplished by measures that divide him from the Russian people.
Biden Administration To Protect Ukrainians in the U.S. From Deportation
But more still needs to be done to address the refugee crisis mounting in Eastern Europe.
Biden Grants Temporary Protected Status to Ukrainians in the US
It's a step in the right direction. But more can be done to protect Ukrainians fleeing Putin's brutal war.
My New Article on "Immigration and the Economic Freedom of Natives"
It explains how immigration restrictions massively diminish both the "negative" and "positive" economic liberty of natives of receiving countries.
Biden Says No Troops to Ukraine, Is Silent on Ukrainian and Russian Refugees
Biden was right to reinforce that American soldiers shouldn't be fighting in Ukraine. But he missed a valuable opportunity to outline immigration measures for Ukrainians and Russians.
Offer Asylum to Russian Soldiers Who Surrender [Updated]
Economist Timur Kuran's excellent idea to bolster Ukraine's defense.
How To Boost the U.S. Economy While Sticking It to Putin
Let's give green cards to the Russians and deprive Vladimir Putin of the brainpower that keeps Russia's industrial motors running.
If Moldova Can Welcome Ukrainian Refugees, the U.S. Can Too
Europe's poorest country is stepping up to help Ukrainians. Time for the U.S. to do the same.
The Government's Coronavirus Response Was a Complete Failure. Who Will Be Held Accountable?
From the CDC to the FDA, there are too many missteps to list.
If You Want To Help Ukrainians, Welcome Them to the U.S.
Now is the time for immigration relief, not military involvement on Ukraine’s behalf.
First World Problems
Asian-American communities are full of stark divisions—including splits over whether to see themselves as "Asian Americans" in the first place.
Biden Administration Files Dubious Lawsuit Challenging Missouri's Gun Sanctuary Law [Updated with a Note on State Courts]
The suit deserves to fail for much the same reasons as Trump-era attacks on immigration sanctuaries.
214 Sex Workers Arrested in Super Bowl 'Human Trafficking' Mission
In addition, 201 "sex buyers" were arrested.
Court Trashes Trump-Era Rules That Prevented Asylum Seekers From Working Legally
But bureaucratic backlogs mean it's still taking far too long for them to get to work.
This Indian Family Froze to Death Trying To Reach America. Our Immigration System Should Have Saved Them.
Visa pathways are limited for people like the Patels.
Canada's Freedom Convoy Embodies Fatigue with Pandemic Authoritarianism
COVID-19 policies eroded liberty and many people want it back.
Stop Messing With the Immigration Mission Statement and Start Letting More People In
Joe Biden is just the latest president to tinker with USCIS's mission statement. Watch his deeds, not his words.
Ohio Mayor Warns That Ice Fishing Will Lead to Prostitution
Plus: Election laws and voter turnout, New York questions Spotify, and more…
Biden Is Deporting Venezuelans Fleeing Socialism, Despite Condemning Trump for the Same Practice
"It's abundantly clear he has no regard for the suffering of the Venezuelan people," then–presidential candidate Biden said of Trump's deportation flights.
Same Border Rules, Vastly Different Portrayals
Trump's pandemic travel bans received vastly different media treatment than Biden's.
My New Cato Institute Paper Making "The Case Against Covid-19 Pandemic Migration Restrictions"
They cause vastly more harm than good and actually undermine health care and scientific progress in the long run.
Kamala Harris Spreads Misinformation on Human Trafficking
Plus: Texas attacks TikTok, Neil Young's anti-science past, IRS reconsidering face scans, and more...
A Border Patrol Agent Assaulted Him and Violated His First Amendment Rights. He May Never Get To Sue.
It is almost impossible to hold a rogue federal officer accountable. The Supreme Court may make it even harder.
Immigration Is a Bright Spot in the America COMPETES Act
Not everything in the bill would keep America competitive, but the immigration provisions certainly would.
Photo: Little Amal, World Traveler
The Handspring Puppet Company and Good Chance Theatre sought to raise awareness of refugee rights while celebrating human migration.
Maggy Krell Repackages Her Bogus Backpage Prosecution Into a Book
The pimping charges Krell helped bring against Backpage's CEO and founders were twice thrown out of court.
One Year Into His Presidency, Joe Biden's Immigration Policy Hasn't Made Anyone Happy
Some good changes have flown under the radar. But there have been few wins—political or practical.
Amy Wax and the Problem of Right-Wing Double Standards on Immigration
Her support for racially discriminatory immigration policies is just the tip of a much broader iceberg of conservative support for discrimination in immigration policy of a kind they would reject in other contexts.
