My New Article on "Freedom Through Foot Voting"
The article adapts and expands some of the ideas developed in my recent book "Free to Move," and is now available for free download on SSRN.
Immigration
Joe Biden Doesn't Want to Be Another 'Deporter in Chief'
The new president issued a 100-day moratorium on deportations.
New U.K. Visa Scheme Would Allow 5.4 Million People To Escape Hong Kong
President Biden should also provide refuge for democracy lovers who want to escape authoritarian Chinese rule.
Biden Issues At Least 15 Executive Orders and Actions on Day One
Plus: Columbia University neuroscientist defends heroin use, Cuomo plan would still criminalize growing or delivering marijuana, and more...
The End of Trump's Travel Bans
On his first day as president, Biden will end both of Trump's travel ban policies. It's a big step in the right direction, though more remains to be done.
Trump's Immigration Policy Was Brutal and Inhumane. Will Biden Fix It?
Obama was also no immigration hero.
It's Time To Fix Green Card Quotas
Current law caps the number of employment-based green cards that can be granted each year at 40,000, which doesn't meet demand.
Nationalists, not Immigrants, are the Real Threat to Liberal Democratic Institutions
It is often argued that we need to restrict immigration in order to protect democratic institutions. But ethno-nationalist immigration restrictionists are a much bigger threat to those institutions than immigrants.
Congress Overrides Trump Veto of Defense Bill that Includes Tight Constraints on Use of "Emergency" Powers to Divert Military Construction Funds to the Border Wall and Other Projects
This would prevent repetition of some of the shenanigans Trump has used to divert funds for his border wall project.
How Biden Can Terminate Trump's Border Wall Project—And Save Money and Protect Property Rights in the Process
Joe Biden can easily stop further work on the wall, protect property owners against further takings of private property, and save money in the process. Additional steps may be tougher, but are still worth considering.
Ted Cruz's Terrible Case for Keeping out Hong Kong Refugees
His rationale is both weak and would have justified keeping out his own father - a refugee from Cuba.
ICE Deports Guinean Immigrant Before He Can Testify in Jail Abuse Lawsuit
Mory Keita was involved in two cases against the government, including an ACLU suit challenging ICE and a case alleging abuse by Butler County Jail guards.
Ted Cruz, Chinese Communist Party Agree: Keep Hongkongers Trapped in China
Cruz not only dimmed America's status as a bastion of freedom for the world's oppressed people, but spat upon his own heritage as the son of a political refugee.
How Immigrants Make America Great Again (and Again and Again)
A new book documents that newcomers revitalize beliefs in hard work, property rights, and the rule of law.
Trump Must Actually Exclude Undocumented Immigrants From the Census Before He Can Be Sued for Doing That, SCOTUS Rules
The Supreme Court dismissed a challenge to Trump's plans for being "premature" until the administration actually does what it says it plans to do.
Supreme Court Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Trump's Plan to Exclude Undocumented Immigrants from Congressional Apportionment Counts—But the Case Could Soon Come Back
The case was dismissed on procedural grounds that will change when and if the administration actually decides which people will be excluded.
Alex Nowrasteh and Benjamin Powell: Immigrants Revitalize Faith in American Institutions
A new book, Wretched Refuse?, documents that newcomers not only increase economic activity but often revitalize faith in free market, limited-government institutions.
My New "Regulatory Review" Article on How Immigration Restrictions Harm US Citizens
Would-be migrants are not the only victims of immigration restrictions. Natives also suffer in a wide variety of ways.
Biden Should Strive To Be Better Than Both Trump and Obama on Central America
The administration’s approach should discourage the drug war, encourage immigration.
Britain Is Granting Record Numbers of Passports to Hongkongers. America Should Take a Hint.
America has undone its longstanding policy of granting special treatment to individuals with Hong Kong passports at exactly the wrong time.
Rights and Wrongs of the Trump Administration's Revised Citizenship Test
Some of the changes are reasonable. But many of the new questions are badly designed and incorporate serious errors. Moreover, such tests raise the deeper issue of why immigrants are required to pass a test to get the right to vote, but natives are not.
Implementing my Pledge to Donate Royalty Payments to Charities Benefiting Refugees
Giving Tuesday is an appropriate time for me to begin carrying out my pledge to donate 50% of the royalties generated by my book "Free to Move" to charities benefiting refugees.
Thoughts on Today's Supreme Court Oral Argument in Trump v. New York
Many of the justices seem intent on avoiding the substantive issues at stake in a case challenging the legality of Trump's plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from the apportionment count for congressional representation.
Supreme Court Considers Whether Trump Can Block Immigrants From Census Counts
Plus: Pennsylvania rejects mail-in vote challenge, Facebook begs for regulation, and more...
The "I'm for Legal Immigration" Dodge
My response to a common, but vacuous trope often brought up in debates about immigration policy.
My "The Hill" Article on Similarities Between Immigration Restrictions and Racial Discrimination
Among other parallels, both restrict liberty and opportunity based on arbitrary circumstances of birth.
Tesla Making the S&P 500 Is Another Immigrant Success Story
Elon Musk, now the third-richest person in the world, was born in South Africa but eventually came to the United States via Canada.
Thank Immigration for the New Covid-19 Vaccines
Both new vaccines were developed at firms established by immigrants or their children. It's a dramatic example of the enormous benefits of international freedom of movement.
Amicus Brief in the Congressional Apportionment Case Currently Before the Supreme Court
The brief filed by Univ. of Texas law professor Sanford Levinson and myself explains why the Trump administration's efforts to exclude undocumented immigrants from the apportionment count for allocating seats in the House of Representatives goes against the text and original meaning of the Constitution.
The Best Thing About a Trump Loss Is Stephen Miller Leaving the White House
Just about everyone—conservatives, progressives, libertarians—should be glad to say goodbye to this cruel approach to immigration policy.
Libertarians Should Make More Use of Referendums
Libertarianism is far from wildly popular, overall. But libertarian causes have done well in referenda in recent years. We can build on that.
A Simple Way to Help Protect DACA Against Legal Challenges
President-elect Joe Biden has promised to fully reinstate DACA. But such a move will surely be challenged in court. Here's an easy way to reduce the risk that such challenges might succeed.
A Simple Way for Biden to Begin to Mend Fences with Cuban-Americans—and Right an Injustice at the Same Time
Biden's underperformance among Cuban-American voters likely cost Democrats Florida. He can begin to heal the breach by reversing the Obama administration's cruel policy (continued by Trump) of barring most Cuban refugees.
Why Biden is a Lesser Evil than Trump
Both candidates have serious flaws. But a Trump victory would be a much greater evil than the alternative.
Video of R Street Institute Event with Two Ilyas—Myself and Ilya Shapiro Speaking about Our New Books
We discuss my book "Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom," and his "Supreme Disorder: The Politics of America's Highest Court."
Study Finds Sanctuary City Policies Reduce Deportations Without Increasing Crime
The much-publicized result is ocnsistent with previous studies on the impact of sanctuary city
My LA Times Op Ed on Why the Constitution Requires Including Undocumented Immigrants in House Reapportionment Counts
The issue is currently before the Supreme Court in the case of Trump v. New York.
Trump and Biden Are Right: Both Parties Are To Blame for America's Inhumane, Broken Immigration System
Trump's immigration record is uniquely appalling but he didn't do it all by himself. Before you start building cages, you should ask how your political opponents might use them.
Hundreds of Victims of Trump's Child Separation Policy Still Haven't Been Reunited with their Parents
The government deported the parents without making any provision for reuniting them with their children.
545 Migrant Kids Snatched by the U.S. Government Are Still Missing Parents
Plus: What Jeffrey Toobin teaches us about Section 230, Wisconsin's Foxconn boondoggle, Breonna Taylor juror speaks out, and more...
Supreme Court Decides to Take a Border Wall Case
The implications of this move are as yet unclear.
Upcoming Virtual Harvard Kennedy School of Government Event on My Book "Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom"
The event is free and open to the public.
The New York Times' Jia Lynn Yang on the Ebb and Flow of Immigration
From the founding up until 1882, U.S. immigration policy was quite open. In her new book, Yang details how that changed over time.
Trump Can End Census Now, Says Supreme Court in Ruling That Could Have Big Impact on House Seats
Plus: DOJ sues over Melania Trump adviser's book, Justice Clarence Thomas wants to limit Section 230, and more....
The Long, Dark History of Family Separations
How politicians used the drug war and the welfare state to break up black and Native American families
Ninth Circuit Rules Against Trump's Diversion of Military Construction Funds to Build his Border Wall
The divided 2-1 decision is the first court of appeals ruling to rule on the legality of a key part of the funding diversion effort.
Eddie Van Halen, Melting-Pot Virtuoso
We don't normally talk about how rock's late, great lead guitarist was an immigrant success story and inspiration to early hip hop, but that's only because he (and America!) were too busy getting rad.
Trump's Student Visa Disaster
There are 1.2 million foreign students in the United States, and ICE keeps leaving them in the lurch, threatening to kick them out (and then rescinding that guidance).