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Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
Associate Policy Analyst

Managing Temporary Migration: Lessons from the Philippine Model
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
Developing countries can proactively manage large-scale, systematic, and legal movement of temporary migrant workers. This MPI report analyzes the system the Philippines uses to manage the temporary migration of millions of Filipinos who work in countries around the globe. For many observers, the Philippines' system of managing temporary migration has unrivaled sophistication, making it a model for other developing countries hoping to access the benefits of global labor mobility.
Download Report | Press Release | Purchase Online

Learning by Doing: Experiences of Circular Migration
By Kathleen Newland, Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, and Aaron Terrazas
Increasingly, policymakers are considering whether circular migration could improve the likelihood that global mobility gains will be shared by migrant-origin and destination countries alike — as well as by migrants themselves. This MPI Insight examines the record of circular migration, both where it has arisen naturally and where governments have taken action to encourage it.

Protecting Overseas Workers: Lessons and Cautions from the Philippines
By Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, MPI, and Neil Ruiz, Brookings Institution
Insight, September 2007
The world’s largest migrant welfare fund, the Philippines’ Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), shows that countries of origin can institutionalize protection of migrant workers through a mechanism for repatriation, provision of insurance and loans, and education and training. However, countries of origin must overcome several limitations to fully realize these benefits. The Philippine case highlights the importance of meeting the core needs of overseas workers without overextending the government’s capacity; political, administrative, and financial transparency and accountability; and the effective use of government resources. Destination countries should also establish mechanisms to protect migrant workers and help build capacity for welfare funds and countries of origin. As temporary worker programs gain increased international attention, both the accomplishments and the limitations of the Philippines’ experience offer guidance for policymakers in other countries seeking to expand temporary migration programs.

Circular Migration and Development: Trends, Policy Routes, and Ways Forward
Co-authored with Kathleen Newland
Policy Brief, April 2007
Circular migration, the temporary or permanent return of migrants to their countries of origin, is seen as offering benefits to countries of migrant origin, to destination countries, and to migrants themselves.

The most common policy route to encourage circulation has been to ensure that migrants maintain ties with their countries of origin, by providing financial incentives to return or by enforcing strict measures to prevent their remaining permanently in destination countries. Experience from many countries shows that this conventional set of policies has not, and in all probability will not, work on its own. Effective circular migration arrangements call for policies that strengthen ties to countries of both origin and destination. An environment that helps migrants to reach their goals—as manifested for instance by accumulated savings, newly acquired skills, and successful business ventures—is most likely to foster temporary or permanent return.

Remittances and Development: Trends, Impacts, and Policy Options --
A Review of the Literature
Report, September 2006
This report provides a comprehensive overview of the current academic and policy literature on remittances. Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias explores questions such as who sends and receives remittances, how much is remitted, methods by which remittances are sent, and what motivates migrants to send money home.  She also delves into the ongoing debate on the impact of remittances on development, going beyond a discussion of economic impacts to include political and social implications. The report reviews existing policy initiatives on remittances and emphasizes the still enormous challenges in making these programs work for development.

From Zero Sum to a Win-Win Scenario:
A Literature Review on Circular Migration
Report, September 2006
This report looks at the policy implications of new research findings on the developmental impacts of circular migration. It highlights new research on how diasporas relate to their countries of origin and reviews policies intended to encourage circular migration, including temporary worker schemes, and the hotly contested issues surrounding them.

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Alexander T. Aleinikoff
Member, Board of Trustees

"Immigration" in The Department of Homeland Security's First Year: A Report Card
(The Century Foundation, 2004)

Citizenship Policies for an Age of Migration
Co-authored with Douglas Klusmeyer
(Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, May 2002)

Citizenship Today: Global Perspectives and Practices
Co-authored with Douglas Klusmeyer
(Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2001)

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Laura Barker

Bridging Divides: The Role of Ethnic Community-Based Organizations in Refugee Integration
Co-authored with Kathleen Newland and Hiroyuki Tanaka
Migration Policy Institute and the International Rescue Committee, June 2007

Almost 2.4 million refugees and asylees from at least 115 countries entered the United States between 1980 and 2006.  Despite declines in refugee admissions, the United States continues to resettle more refugees than any other country. A new study released for World Refugee Day on June 20 examines how organizations founded by refugees are helping others who have escaped violence and persecution abroad adjust to life in the United States. 

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Jeanne Batalova
Policy Analyst and Manager, MPI Data Hub

Uneven Progress: The Employment Pathways of Skilled Immigrants in the United States
By Jeanne Batalova and Michael Fix with Peter A. Creticos
More than 1.3 million college-educated immigrants in the United States are unemployed or working in unskilled jobs because they are unable to make full use of their academic and professional credentials, MPI reports in the first assessment yet of the scope of the "brain waste" problem. The report analyzes and offers possible solutions for the credentialing and language-barrier hurdles that deprive the US economy of a rich source of human capital at a time of increasing competition globally for skilled talent.

The Recently Arrived Foreign Born in the United States
Co-authored with Aaron Matteo Terrazas
Migration Information Source, May 24, 2007
Over half of the foreign born in the United States in 2005 arrived in 1990 or later. MPI's Jeanne Batalova and Aaron Terrazas look at the countries of origin, education levels, occupations, and other characteristics of newer immigrants.

Proposed Points System and Its Likely Impact on Prospective Immigrants
Co-authored with Demetrios Papademetriou and Julia Gelatt
Backgrounder No. 4, May 2007
This MPI Backgrounder provides data on the foreign born in the United States related to the immigrant selection criteria expected to be part of the points-system proposal. These include age, educational attainment, occupation, English proficiency, and labor force participation -- factors that may be given more emphasis than extended family relationships. 

Measures of Change: The Demography and Literacy of Adolescent English Learners
Co-authored with Michael Fix and Julie Murray
Report, March 2007
This new report provides a demographic profile of students in grades 6-12 who are English Language Learners (ELLs) and focuses on how these students are faring on standardized tests at the national level and in four states: California, Colorado, Illinois, and North Carolina. The authors find wide achievement gaps between ELL and other students at both national and state levels -- a finding with worrying implications for schools trying to meet requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act.
Order Online | Press Release | Download the Report

The “Brain Gain” Race Begins with Foreign Students
Migration Information Source, January 1, 2007
The United States has been a destination for education and research for generations of foreign students and scholars. MPI's Jeanne Batalova explores why the country has become less dominant in the global education market in recent years.

Spotlight on Foreign Students and Exchange Visitors
Migration Information Source, November 1, 2006
The United States' education system has been a major educational destination for foreign students for decades. MPI’s Jeanne Batalova describes the foreign student and exchange visitor population in the United States and highlights recent policy developments affecting them.

One in Seven Mexican Workers Are in the United States
MPI Fact Sheet No. 14, November 2006
Fourteen percent of the Mexican labor force -- or about one in seven Mexican workers -- were in the United States in 2005. Mexicans made up almost 5 percent of the US labor force and nearly a third of all foreign-born workers in the United States.

New Estimates of Unauthorized Youth Eligible for Legal Status under the DREAM Act
Backgrounder by Jeanne Batalova and Michael Fix
October 2006
The DREAM Act, incorporated into the current Senate bill, would immediately make about 360,000 young people aged 18 to 24 who have graduated from high school or obtained a GED eligible for conditional legal status. Those who qualify and then attend college or join the military within six years would become eligible for permanent legal status – an arrangement unprecedented in US history. Another approximately 715,000 unauthorized youth between ages 5 and 17 would become eligible for conditional and then permanent legal status under the proposed legislation sometime in the future, according to estimates in a new MPI Backgrounder.

Spotlight on Temporary Admissions of Nonimmigrants to the United States
Migration Information Source, September 1, 2006
The total number of nonimmigrants admitted to the US more than tripled between 1985 and 2005. MPI's Jeanne Batalova outlines the definition of nonimmigrants and takes a detailed look at admissions data.

Spotlight on Naturalization Trends
Migration Information Source, September 1, 2006
Over 604,000 immigrants received US citizenship in 2005. MPI's Jeanne Batalova takes a detailed look at the latest naturalization trends in the United States.

Spotlight on Legal Immigration to the United States
Migration Information Source, August 1, 2006
The number of new immigrant arrivals has remained relatively stable since 1986. MPI’s Jeanne Batalova looks at data on permanent immigration to the US.

Spotlight on Refugees and Asylees in the United States
Migration Information Source, August 1, 2006
In 2005, the United States admitted almost 54,000 refugees for resettlement and granted asylum to more than 25,000 people. MPI’s Jeanne Batalova takes a detailed look at refugee and asylum statistics in the United States.

Immigrants and Labor Force Trends: The Future, Past, and Present
By B. Lindsay Lowell, Julia Gelatt, and Jeanne Batalova
Task Force Insight No. 17, July 2006
The authors find that immigrants have been a driving force behind labor market growth in the United States in the past three decades. If immigration remains at current levels, immigrants and their children are projected to account for all growth in the US labor force between 2010 and 2030. Immigrants are projected to represent a rising percent of the workforce at all skill levels, increasing from 29 percent of those with less than a high school education in 2000 to 34 percent in 2030, from 10 to 15 percent of workers with a high school degree, and from 14 to 18 percent of those with a college education. Many jobs that have the highest rate of growth (in percentage terms) will require a college education, such as computer software engineers, physical therapists, and medical scientists.  Meanwhile many jobs with the largest absolute (numerical) growth will require only on-the-job training and will have three times as many openings, for instance in medicine, home care and other services.  Particularly as the native population ages, immigrants' education and skill levels make them good matches for these jobs.

The Impact of Immigration on Native Workers: A Fresh Look at the Evidence
Co-authored with Julie Murray and Michael Fix
Task Force Insight No. 18, July 2006
The authors carefully consider the extensive literature regarding the "competition question" of immigration's effects for natives. Contrary to much rhetoric in the current debate, the authors conclude that the question of whether increased immigration decreases native workers’ wages has yet to be resolved. They find that recent research diverges sharply on whether immigrants lower US-born workers' wages or, in fact, work in a complementary way to boost wages, particularly for high-skilled natives. Turning then to displacement, the authors note that researchers have more consistently found that there is some job displacement, or at least growing exclusion, of native workers in industries or areas with many immigrants.  This trend holds for low-skilled workers and/or African-American natives.  The authors write that changes in labor or capital, such as native out-migration or the entry of new industries into a region, can lessen the impacts of immigration on native wages or employment or spread the effects through a larger market.

Spotlight on Limited English Proficient Students in the United States
Migration Information Source, February 1, 2006
About five million students with limited proficiency in English were enrolled in US public schools in the 2003-2004 school year. MPI's Jeanne Batalova examines their characteristics.

The Growing Connection Between Temporary and Permanent Immigration Systems
Task Force Insight No. 14, January 2006
The distinction between temporary and permanent migration, clearly demarcated in past decades, has become increasingly blurred. A new immigrant admissions system has emerged that is neith temporary nor permanent, but rather a transitional system that allows visa holders to prove their worth to employers and the broader economy. The author also concludes that data collection must be improved so that legislators have an accurate basis for designing improved programs and policies.

Spotlight on Foreign Born in Areas Affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
Migration Information Source, October 1, 2005
According to the 2000 census, more than 150,000 foreign born lived in the counties affected by Hurricane Katrina. MPI's Jeanne Batalova takes a detailed look at the foreign-born population in the areas hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Foreign-Born Self-Employed in the United States
Co-authored with David Dixon
Migration Information Source, April 1, 2005
About one in 10 US immigrants is self-employed. MPI’s Jeanne Batalova and David Dixon explore the importance and dimensions of this phenomenon.

College-Educated Foreign Born in the US Labor Force
Migration Information Source, February 1, 2005
The importance of knowledge, skills, and technologies in post-industrial economies has beckoned well-educated migrants to the United States. MPI's Jeanne Batalova takes a detailed look at the foreign born with a bachelor's degree or higher.

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Jeremy Banks

Behind the Naturalization Backlog
By Claire Bergeron and Jeremy Banks
Fact Sheet No. 21, February 2008 The processing time for naturalization applications has risen dramatically since mid-2007, to an 18-month average, as the federal government has struggled to cope with a surge in applications driven in part by a substantial fee increase. More than 460,000 people filed naturalization applications in July 2007 right before the fee hike took effect — fully one-third of the nearly 1.4 million applications that were filed during the entire fiscal year. This MPI fact sheet examines the causes, context, and concerns surrounding the backlog.

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Claire Bergeron

Behind the Naturalization Backlog
By Claire Bergeron and Jeremy Banks
Fact Sheet No. 21, February 2008
The processing time for naturalization applications has risen dramatically since mid-2007, to an 18-month average, as the federal government has struggled to cope with a surge in applications driven in part by a substantial fee increase. More than 460,000 people filed naturalization applications in July 2007 right before the fee hike took effect — fully one-third of the nearly 1.4 million applications that were filed during the entire fiscal year. This MPI fact sheet examines the causes, context, and concerns surrounding the backlog.

Social Security “No Match” Letters: A Primer
MPI Backgrounder No. 5, October 2007
A US District Court Judge has ruled that a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulation regarding Social Security Administration (SSA) “no match” letters cannot be implemented. This MPI Backgrounder shows that, based on 2006 information, the DHS procedures would have affected more than 1.5 million workers, with approximately 1 million concentrated in ten states.

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Suzette Brooks Masters

Putting Data to Work for Immigrants and Communities: Tools for the Washington DC Metro Area and Beyond
Co-authored with Kimberly A. Hamilton and Jill Wilson
March 2004
Information about immigrants--where they are from, where they live, and how they fare--has never been more important, or plentiful. At the same time, community organizations are working to respond to changing regional dynamics, often with limited resources. This report argues that it is vitally important for organizations to integrate fact-based knowledge of immigration into their day-to-day operations. The publication provides, in an easy to use fashion, the major data sources, training providers, data-related publications, and other useful contacts in metro DC area government, Census Bureau satellites, and universities that can be helpful to organizations working with immigrants or anyone interested in US immigration data. While the report focuses on the DC metropolitan region, the resource guide is relevant for all. The publication comes with a pullout wall chart with condensed guidelines for finding data and training.
Data Users Pullout Guide
Purchase from the MPI Store

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Randy Capps

Trends in the Low-Wage Immigrant Workforce
By Randy Capps, Karina Fortuny, and Michael Fix
Urban Institute, March 2007
In 2005, immigrants overall represented more than a fifth of low-wage workers and almost half of workers without a high school education. This report describes recent trends in the immigrant labor force and their implications for the US economy.

Civic Contributions: Taxes Paid by Immigrants in the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Area
Co-authored with Randolph Capps and Everett Henderson, The Urban Institute, and Jeffrey S. Passel, Pew Hispanic Center Report, Urban Institute, June 2006
The Washington, DC, metropolitan area is home to over 1 million immigrants, who composed one-fifth of the area’s total population in 2004. A new Urban Institute study find that the most educated foreign-born immigrants actually pay more in taxes than natives and the lower skilled contribute, too.

The New Demography of America's Schools
By Randolph Capps, Michael Fix, Julie Murray, Jason Ost, Jeffrey S. Passel, and Shinta Hirontoro
Urban Institute, September 2005

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Muzaffar A. Chishti
Director, MPI's Office at NYU School of Law

Testing the Limits: A Framework for Assessing the Legality of State and Local Immigration Measures
By Cristina Rodríguez, Muzaffar Chishti, and Kimberly Nortman
Report, December 2007
In 2007 alone, the 50 state legislatures have considered over 1,000 pieces of legislation regulating immigrants and immigration. This paper provides a framework for assessing the legal validity of five of the most common or high-profile measures that address unauthorized immigration specifically.

The Phenomenal Rise in Remittances to India: A Closer Look
Policy Brief, May 2007
India’s remittances have skyrocketed in the past 10 years, jumping from $2.1 billion in FY1990-1991 to $24.1 billion in FY2005-2006. India captures 10 percent of global remittances, making it the single largest recipient in the world. Muzaffar Chishti examines the factors behind this surge, from economic reforms to migrants’ shift to higher-skilled jobs. He finds that while remittances exceed total government expenditures in health and education, the Indian government has not instituted any policies specifically aimed at increasing remittance flows. Looking forward, the most significant factor in remittance and investment flows may ultimately be how Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) perceive the Indian economy, and the challenge for the government will be leveraging inflows of NRI capital for broader socioeconomic development.

America's Challenge: Domestic Security, Civil Liberties, and National Unity After September 11
Co-authored with Doris Meissner, Demetrios G. Papademetriou, Jay Peterzell, Michael J. Wishnie, and Stephen W. Yale-Loehr
June 2003
MPI’s report draws on extensive interviews with policymakers and community leaders across the United States, and on comprehensive information assembled about the 'secret' detentions after the terrorist attacks. It presents detailed recommendations on how to incorporate immigration law and policy into national strategies that confront the threat of terrorism, uphold the rule of law, and preserve the cohesion that is one of the country’s strongest security assets.

Immigration and Security Post-Sept. 11
Migration Information Source, August 2002

Supreme Court Brief - Amici Curiae
Co-authored with David Schulz, Jeffrey Drichta, David Dovdavany, and Michael J. Wishnie
Hoffman Plastic Board Compounds v. National Labor Relations Board
December 10, 2001
(Read a Summary of the Brief)

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Gayle Christensen

Language Policies and Practices for Helping Immigrants and Second-Generation Students Succeed
By Gayle Christensen, Urban Institute, and Petra Stanat, Free University of Berlin
Transatlantic Task Force on Immigration and Integration Report, September 2007
Drs. Christensen and Stanat draw on the results of a unique survey of school language policies and practices to close the achievement gap in 14 immigrant-receiving countries. The authors find that countries where immigrant and second-generation students succeed tend to have long-standing language support programs, for both primary and secondary students, with clearly defined goals and standards. The authors highlight Sweden; Victoria, Australia; and British Columbia, Canada, as places with smaller achievement gaps between native-born and immigrant students. These programs’ common strategies include centrally developed curricula, high program standards, time-intensive programs, support in both primary and secondary school, second-language teachers who have received specialized training, and cooperation between language and other teachers.

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Betsy Cooper

The New "Boat People": Ensuring Safety and Determining Status
By Joanne van Selm and Betsy Cooper
Report, January 2006
This report aims to foster dialogue among international stakeholders and policymakers about current policy responses to migration by sea. A forum of renowned experts and government representatives from across the globe convened at MPI to discuss the implications of historical and current trends in interdiction and rescue, from Haiti to Australia to Europe, as well as what approaches might be effective for the future.

Leaving Too Much to Chance: A Roundtable on Immigrant Integration Policy
By Michael Fix, Demetrios G. Papademetriou, and Betsy Cooper
November 2005
Fifty of the nation's leading experts gathered at MPI to discuss three critical areas of integration policy: PreK - 12 education; work and work supports for immigrant families; and civic engagement and citizenship, with the aim of identifying major policy changes and opportunities and to begin mapping an agenda for policy change regarding immigrant integration.

Lessons From The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
Co-authored with Kevin O'Neil
Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future Policy Brief No. 3 August 2005

Secure Borders, Open Doors: Visa Procedures in the Post-September 11 Era
By Stephen Yale-Loehr, Demetrios G. Papademetriou and Betsy Cooper
September 2005
The US visa policy program has become a key tool in promoting national security, but vulnerabilities remain and government agencies must work together to ensure that security measures do not compromise U.S. economic competitiveness and foreign policy goals, find the authors of MPI's report.
Full Report | Executive Summary | Press Release | Event

United States-Canada-Mexico Trade and Migration Fact Sheet
Co-authored with Megan Davy
October 2005
Fact Sheet | Press Release

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Maurice Crul

Pathways to Success for the Children of Immigrants
By Maurice Crul, University of Amsterdam
Transatlantic Task Force on Immigration and Integration Report, September 2007
Dr. Crul looks at how the children of Turkish immigrants, the largest immigrant group in Europe, are faring across the continent. He finds disparities across countries in the age at which children start school, the number who drop out of secondary school, and the number of youth who are unemployed. He notes that, because immigrant students tend to start school at a linguistic and cultural disadvantage, compelling them to choose either an academic or vocational education “track” too early may relegate them to a less enriching education. Dr. Crul suggests a range of policy tools to avoid this outcome, such as establishing strong apprenticeship programs and allowing vocational students to switch back to academic schools if they show the potential to succeed.

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David Dixon

America's Emigrants: US Retirement to Mexico and Panama
While US policy focuses on immigration from Mexico and Latin America, a new MPI study identifies a reverse trend: increasing numbers of senior citizens from the United States moving to Mexico and Panama to retire. With the US Census estimating that the population over 65 in the United States will double by the year 2030, understanding new and growing trends in international retirement migration will become increasingly important as baby boomers age.

Detailed Characteristics of the South American Born in the United States
Co-authored with Julia Gelatt
Migration Information Source, May 1, 2006
The majority of South American born counted in the 2000 census were from Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Characteristics of the Asian Born in the United States
Migration Information Source, March 1, 2006
The Asian born accounted for more than a quarter of the total US foreign-born population in 2000. David Dixon looks at the social and economic profiles of the foreign born from Eastern, Southeastern South Central and Western Asia.

Characteristics of the African Born in the United States
Migration Information Source, January 1, 2006
David Dixon looks at the social and economic profiles of the foreign born from Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa.

"Zieht es die Besten fort? Ausmaß und Formen der Abwanderung deutscher Hochqualifizierter in die USA," [The Best Ones Leave? Emigration of the Highly Skilled from Germany to the US]
co-authored with Claudia Diehl, German Federal Institute for Population Research
Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie 57, 2005, S. 714-734. [German]

Spotlight on Naturalization Trends
Migration Information Source, November 1, 2005
Over 500,000 immigrants received US citizenship in 2004. MPI's Aaron Erlich and David Dixon take a detailed look at the latest naturalization trends in the United States.

Spotlight on US Immigration Enforcement
Migration Information Source, September 1, 2005
Of the 186,151 individuals formally removed in 2003, 40 percent entered without authorization. MPI's David Dixon briefly explains the US approach to immigration enforcement and looks at apprehension, detention, and removal statistics.

New Research Challenges Notion of German "Brain Drain"
Co-authored with Claudia Diehl, German Federal Institute for Population Research
Migration Information Source, August 1, 2005
For years, Germany has been concerned about losing its top minds to the United States. While highly skilled individuals are leaving for the US, most of the increase is accounted for by temporary migrants.

Foreign-Born Self-Employed in the United States
Migration Information Source, April 1, 2005
About one in 10 US immigrants is self-employed. MPI’s Jeanne Batalova and David Dixon explore the importance and dimensions of this phenomenon.

Characteristics of the European Born in the United States
Migration Information Source, February 1, 2005
The European born are more likely to be proficient in English, work in higher-level occupations, and have higher earnings than the overall foreign-born population. David Dixon examines the social and economic profiles of the foreign born from Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Europe.

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David Dovdavany

Supreme Court Brief - Amici Curiae
Co-authored with Muzaffar Chishti, Jeffrey Drichta, David Dovdavany, Michael J. Wishnie
Hoffman Plastic Board Compounds v. National Labor Relations Board
December 10, 2001
(Read a Summary of the Brief)

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Jeffrey Drichta

Supreme Court Brief - Amici Curiae
Co-authored with David Schulz, David Dovdavany, Michael J. Wishnie and Muzaffar Chishti
Hoffman Plastic Board Compounds v. National Labor Relations Board
December 10, 2001
(Read a Summary of the Brief)

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Jamie Durana

Hometown Associations: An Untapped Resource for Immigrant Integration?
By Will Somerville, Jamie Durana, and Aaron Matteo Terrazas
Hometown associations, the organizations that immigrants create for social, economic development, and political empowerment purposes, play an important – and underexamined – role in immigrant integration. Though policymakers focus chiefly on the associations’ development potential, this MPI Insight recommends cooperative interventions to strengthen their immigrant integration capacity.

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Leise Egesberg

Study on the Transfer of Protection Status in the EU
By Nina M. Lassen with Leise Egesberg, Joanne van Selm with Eleni Tsolakis, and Jeroen Doomernik
June 25, 2004

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Michael Fix
Vice President and Director of Studies and Co-Director, National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy

Uneven Progress: The Employment Pathways of Skilled Immigrants in the United States
By Jeanne Batalova and Michael Fix with Peter A. Creticos
More than 1.3 million college-educated immigrants in the United States are unemployed or working in unskilled jobs because they are unable to make full use of their academic and professional credentials, MPI reports in the first assessment yet of the scope of the "brain waste" problem. The report analyzes and offers possible solutions for the credentialing and language-barrier hurdles that deprive the US economy of a rich source of human capital at a time of increasing competition globally for skilled talent.

Gambling on the Future: Managing the Education Challenges of Rapid Growth in Nevada
By Aaron Terrazas and Michael Fix
Nevada, the fastest growing state in the United States, is experiencing a population boom – driven in part by immigration – that has key implications for its school system and labor market. Immigrants represent one in five Nevada residents and their children account for one in three Nevadans under age 18. Yet even as schools have experienced a surge in enrollment, federal and state investments in the state's failing education system haven't kept pace.
Download Report | Press Release

Los Angeles on the Leading Edge: Immigrant Integration Indicators and Their Policy Implications
By Michael Fix, Margie McHugh, Aaron Matteo Terrazas, and Laureen Laglagaron
April 2008
As Los Angeles makes the transition from being a city of immigrants to one dominated by their US-born children, it can serve as a policy laboratory for other cities facing the need to better integrate immigrants into US classrooms, workplaces, and civic life. MPI’s report details the imperative for integration policies that will benefit immigrants and the broader US society alike.
Download Report | Press Release

A Profile of Immigrants in Arkansas
Co-authored with Randolph Capps, Everett Henderson, John D. Kasarda, James H. Johnson, Jr., Stephen J. Appold, Derrek L. Croney, and Donald J. Hernandez
Report, Urban Institute, April 2007
Arkansas, which had the 4th fastest growing immigrant population and fastest growing Latino population of any state between 2000 and 2005, is the subject of this series of reports. Volume 1 provides detailed demographic information about the foreign-born in Arkansas and compares immigrants to natives on a wide variety of quality-of-life measures. It profiles immigrants' countries of birth, legal status, educational attainment, poverty, homeownership, employment, and the primary industries in which they are employed. Volume 2 assesses immigrants' impacts on the Arkansas economy, in terms of consumer spending, tax contributions, fiscal costs, and the savings that businesses and consumers realize by using immigrant labor. An executive summary is also listed below.

Measures of Change: The Demography and Literacy of Adolescent English Learners
Co-authored with Jeanne Batalova and Julie Murray
Report, March 2007
This new report provides a demographic profile of students in grades 6-12 who are English Language Learners (ELLs) and focuses on how these students are faring on standardized tests at the national level and in four states: California, Colorado, Illinois, and North Carolina. The authors find wide achievement gaps between ELL and other students at both national and state levels -- a finding with worrying implications for schools trying to meet requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act.
Press Release | Download the Report

Trends in the Low-Wage Immigrant Workforce
Co-authored with Randolph Capps and Karina Fortuny
Report, Urban Institute, March 2007
In 2005, immigrants overall represented more than a fifth of low-wage workers and almost half of workers without a high school education. This report describes recent trends in the immigrant labor force and their implications for the US economy.

Securing the Future: US Immigrant Integration Policy, A Reader
Editor
Book, February 2007
This volume sketches the contours of a national integration policy and includes a discussion of key integration issues raised by the current debate around immigration reform, including impact aid to state and local governments and financing health care for legalizing immigrants.

New Estimates of Unauthorized Youth Eligible for Legal Status under the DREAM Act
Backgrounder by Jeanne Batalova and Michael Fix
October 2006
The DREAM Act, incorporated into the current Senate bill, would immediately make about 360,000 young people aged 18 to 24 who have graduated from high school or obtained a GED eligible for conditional legal status. Those who qualify and then attend college or join the military within six years would become eligible for permanent legal status – an arrangement unprecedented in US history. Another approximately 715,000 unauthorized youth between ages 5 and 17 would become eligible for conditional and then permanent legal status under the proposed legislation sometime in the future, according to estimates in a new MPI Backgrounder.

Immigration and America's Future: A New Chapter
Final report of the Independent Task Force co-chaired by Spencer Abraham and Lee H. Hamilton
The bipartisan group of public policy experts, immigration stakeholders, and elected officials undertook careful analysis of the economic, social, and demographic factors driving today’s large-scale immigration.
The Task Force has concluded that immigration is essential to US national interests and will become even more so in the years ahead. However, the system is outdated, overly complex, and inflexible; it no longer serves the nation’s needs. The Task Force recommends that the United States fundamentally rethink its policies and overhaul how it manages immigration to better harness the benefits and minimize the disadvantages of immigration. 

The Contributions of High-Skilled Immigrants
Co-authored with Neeraj Kaushal
Task Force Insight No. 16, July 2006
The authors find that while immigrants are one in eight US residents, they make up one in every five doctors in the country, one in five computer specialists, and one in six persons in engineering or science occupations. In 2000, the foreign born constituted approximately 17 percent of the work force with a BA in science and engineering occupations, 29 percent of those with a master’s degree, and 39 percent of those with a doctoral degree. Since 1990, more than half the US Nobel laureates in sciences were foreign born and about 37 percent were educated abroad. However, global competition for students and high-skilled workers is on the rise and could erode US dominance in higher education and shrink the pool of high-skilled workers available for US jobs.

The Impact of Immigration on Native Workers: A Fresh Look at the Evidence
Co-authored with Julie Murray and Jeanne Batalova
Task Force Insight No. 18, July 2006
The authors carefully consider the extensive literature regarding the "competition question" of immigration's effects for natives. Contrary to much rhetoric in the current debate, the authors conclude that the question of whether increased immigration decreases native workers’ wages has yet to be resolved. They find that recent research diverges sharply on whether immigrants lower US-born workers' wages or, in fact, work in a complementary way to boost wages, particularly for high-skilled natives. Turning then to displacement, the authors note that researchers have more consistently found that there is some job displacement, or at least growing exclusion, of native workers in industries or areas with many immigrants.  This trend holds for low-skilled workers and/or African-American natives.  The authors write that changes in labor or capital, such as native out-migration or the entry of new industries into a region, can lessen the impacts of immigration on native wages or employment or spread the effects through a larger market.

Civic Contributions: Taxes Paid by Immigrants in the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Area
Co-authored with Randolph Capps and Everett Henderson, The Urban Institute, and Jeffrey S. Passel, Pew Hispanic Center
Report, Urban Institute, June 2006
The Washington, DC, metropolitan area is home to over 1 million immigrants, who composed one-fifth of the area’s total population in 2004. A new Urban Institute study find that the most educated foreign-born immigrants actually pay more in taxes than natives and the lower skilled contribute, too.

Leaving Too Much to Chance: A Roundtable on Immigrant Integration Policy
By Michael Fix, Demetrios G. Papademetriou, and Betsy Cooper
November 2005
Fifty of the nation's leading experts gathered at MPI to discuss three critical areas of integration policy: PreK - 12 education; work and work supports for immigrant families; and civic engagement and citizenship, with the aim of identifying major policy changes and opportunities and to begin mapping an agenda for policy change regarding immigrant integration.

The New Demography of America's Schools
Co-authored with Randolph Capps, Julie Murray, Jason Ost, Jeffrey S. Passel, and Shinta Hirontoro
Report, Urban Institute, September 2005

Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future: The Roadmap
Co-authored with Doris Meissner and Demetrios G. Papademetriou
Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future Policy Brief No. 1
June 2005
The Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future will focus on key policy questions in areas where today's US immigration policy and practices are faltering. These include: upholding the rule of law; developing policies that meet immigration and national security needs; managing immigration in ways that increase the nation's economic competitiveness; and promoting the economic and social integration of newcomers.

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Peter Galbraith

Refugees from War in Iraq: What happened in 1991 and what may happen in 2003
Policy Brief No. 2, February 2003
PDF Version  | Purchase from Bookstore

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Julia Gelatt

How Changes to Family Immigration Could Affect Source Countries' Sending Patterns
By Julia Gelatt
Fact Sheet No. 18, June 2007
The proposed Senate bill would substantially revise the family-based permanent immigration system. This Fact Sheet shows that, under the bill's points system, the share of visas going to employment-based immigrants would increase from less than one-fifth currently to about two-fifths.

Actual Immigration to the United States:
The Real Numbers
Fact Sheet No. 16, May 2007
While official figures show annual permanent immigration to the United States averaging about 1 million people a year, actual annual immigration to the United States is about 1.8 million people. True numbers of people who enter the United States each year and ultimately remain permanently include not only those coming through official permanent immigration channels, but also those entering through certain temporary immigration streams, and those entering or remaining in the United States without authorization.

Proposed Points System and Its Likely Impact on Prospective Immigrants
Co-authored with Demetrios Papademetriou, Jeanne Batalova
Backgrounder No. 4, May 2007
This MPI Backgrounder provides data on the foreign born in the United States related to the immigrant selection criteria expected to be part of the points-system proposal. These include age, educational attainment, occupation, English proficiency, and labor force participation -- factors that may be given more emphasis than extended family relationships. 

Immigration Fee Increases in Context
Co-authored with Margie McHugh
Fact Sheet No. 15, February 2007
US Citizenship Immigration Services has announced plans for an 80 percent increase in naturalization application fees. The fact sheet details the increased fees' implications for US immigrants and provides background on USCIS' call for higher fees.

Legal Immigration to the United States Increased Substantially in FY 2005
Co-authored with Deborah Meyers
October 2006
In Fiscal Year 2005, the most recent year for which data are available: Lawful permanent immigration grew by 17 percent and naturalizations increased by almost 13 percent from FY 2004. The number of people who adjusted their status to lawful permanent residence increased 26 percent, explaining much of the overall growth. Refugee admissions rose slightly from FY 2004, but remained below pre-9/11 levels. The level of temporary visitors rebounded to near pre-9/11 levels.

Immigrants and Labor Force Trends: The Future, Past, and Present
Co-authored with B. Lindsay Lowell and Jeanne Batalova
Task Force Insight No. 17, July 2006
The authors find that immigrants have been a driving force behind labor market growth in the United States in the past three decades. If immigration remains at current levels, immigrants and their children are projected to account for all growth in the US labor force between 2010 and 2030. Immigrants are projected to represent a rising percent of the workforce at all skill levels, increasing from 29 percent of those with less than a high school education in 2000 to 34 percent in 2030, from 10 to 15 percent of workers with a high school degree, and from 14 to 18 percent of those with a college education. Many jobs that have the highest rate of growth (in percentage terms) will require a college education, such as computer software engineers, physical therapists, and medical scientists.  Meanwhile many jobs with the largest absolute (numerical) growth will require only on-the-job training and will have three times as many openings, for instance in medicine, home care and other services.  Particularly as the native population ages, immigrants' education and skill levels make them good matches for these jobs.
Download PDF

America's Emigrants: US Retirement to Mexico and Panama
Co-authored with David Dixon and Julie Murray
While US policy focuses on immigration from Mexico and Latin America, a new MPI study identifies a reverse trend: increasing numbers of senior citizens from the United States moving to Mexico and Panama to retire. With the US Census estimating that the population over 65 in the United States will double by the year 2030, understanding new and growing trends in international retirement migration will become increasingly important as baby boomers age.
Executive Summary | Resumen Ejecutivo (Español)

Immigration Facts: Immigration Enforcement Spending Since IRCA
Co-authored with David Dixon
Task Force Fact Sheet No. 10, November 2005
This study of appropriations finds that from 1985 to 2002, funds for border control jumped from $700 million to $2.8 billion per year; funds for detention and removal skyrocketed from $192 million to $1.6 billion, while funds for interior investigations rose from $109 million to only $458 million.

Legal Immigration to the United States Up from Last Year
Information on US immigration in FY 2004
Co-authored with Deborah Meyers
Fact Sheet No. 12, November 2005

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Susan Ginsburg

Room for Progress: Reinventing Euro-Atlantic Borders for a New Strategic Environment
By Deborah W. Meyers, Rey Koslowski, and Susan Ginsburg, October 2007
Ever-increasing economic and political integration of the European Union and deeper economic and security partnerships among the United States, Canada, and Mexico are creating new models of border management. A new MPI report describes recently established US and EU enforcement agencies, benefits and limitations of new information technology, and contentious developments surrounding visa-free travel policy.
Full Report | Press Release

Countering Terrorist Mobility: Shaping an Operational Strategy 
By Susan Ginsburg, January 2006
Susan Ginsburg provides a blueprint for an integrated strategy to thwart terrorists by focusing on terrorist mobility.  While all but the most recent government counterterrorism strategies since 9/11 omit mobility as a distinct element of terrorism requiring its own operational strategy, Ms. Ginsburg argues that terrorist mobility deserves comparable attention and resources to those devoted to terrorist finance and communications.  She describes the elements of a terrorist mobility strategy that can use leads generated by terrorists’ need to travel to counter their ability to enter, live in, or move within the United States and like-minded countries.

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Elizabeth Grieco

Backlogs in Immigration Processing Persist
By Doris Meissner, Elizabeth Grieco and Kevin Jernegan
Fact Sheet, June 2005
Over the last fifteen years, the number of pending applications for immigration benefits in the United States has swollen by over 1,000 percent, growing from 540,688 in 1990 to a high of 6.08 million in 2003. This fact sheet provides insight into the factors that have contributed to protracted processing delays, or the backlog.

The Dominican Population in the United States: Growth and Distribution
Commissioned by Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom)
Published by the Migration Policy Institute, September 2004
This study summarizes the size and growth of the Dominican population in the United States and discusses some of the unique characteristics of this community. Author Elizabeth Grieco finds that between 1990 and 2000, the Dominican population grew by 89 percent. In the year 2000, the Dominican population was 1 million, approximately two-thirds of whom are foreign-born. Immigration has been -- and will continue to be in the near future -- the driving force of growth for the Dominican population in the United States.

Health Insurance Coverage of the Foreign Born in the United States: Numbers and Trends
By Elizabeth Grieco
Fact Sheet No. 8, June 2004
Of the 33.5 million foreign born in the United States, one in three have no health insurance coverage. However, the longer immigrants reside in the United States, the more likely they are to hold health insurance, with data indicating that the percent uninsured drops dramatically as the time of residence increases. This fact sheet contains information on health insurance coverage of the foreign born and natives in United States.

Immigrants and U.S. Labor Unions: An MPI Fact Sheet
By Elizabeth Grieco
Fact Sheet No. 7, May 2004
The number of immigrant workers in labor unions grew by 24 percent between 1996 and 2003, a year in which one out of every ten immigrant wage and salary workers in the United States was a labor union member. This fact sheet contains information about the increase of immigrants in the U.S. work force, and the participation in labor unions of both native and foreign-born workers.

"Realizing the Potential of Migrant 'Earn, Learn, and Return' Strategies: Does Policy Matter?"
By Kimberly Hamilton and Elizabeth Grieco
Commitment to Development Index
Center for Global Development, February 2004

What Kind of Work Do Immigrants Do? Occupation and Industry of Foreign-Born Workers in the United States
By Elizabeth Grieco
Fact Sheet No. 5, January 2004
Foreign-born workers are employed in a broad range of occupations, with 23 percent in managerial and professional occupations, 21 percent in technical, sales, and administrative support occupations, 21 percent in service occupations, 18 percent working as operators, fabricators, and laborers, and 4 percent in farming, forestry, and fishing occupations. This fact sheet contains information on the occupation and industry of foreign-born workers in the United States.

The Foreign Born in the US Labor Force: Numbers and Trends
By Elizabeth Grieco
Fact Sheet No. 4, January 2004
The foreign-born make up 14 percent of the total civilian labor force in the United States, and the majority of foreign-born workers in the United States are non-citizens. This fact sheet contains information on the immigrants in the US work force.

The Foreign Born from the Philippines in the United States
Migration Information Source, November 1, 2003
Data Manager Elizabeth Grieco provides an overview of the second-largest immigrant group in the United States.

Unauthorized Immigration to the United States
By Elizabeth Grieco
Fact Sheet No. 2, October 2003

The Foreign Born from Mexico in the United States
Migration Information Source, October 1, 2003

US Immigration Since September 11, 2001
By Elizabeth Grieco, Deborah Meyers, and Kathleen Newland
Fact Sheet No. 1, September 2003

The Foreign Born in the Armed Forces
Migration Information Source, July 1, 2003
Data Manager Elizabeth Grieco takes a closer look at the foreign-born members of the United States armed forces.

The Federated States of Micronesia: The "Push" to Migrate
Migration Information Source, July 2003
Waves of emigrants from the Federated States of Micronesia are building new lives abroad, according to MPI Data Manager Elizabeth Grieco.

Iraqi Immigrants in the United States
Migration Information Source, April 1, 2003
With the war in Iraq intensifying, the media has focused on the Iraqi foreign born in the United States. To ensure the accuracy of public debate, MPI Data Manager Elizabeth Grieco uses US Census Bureau statistics to describe the size of the Iraqi immigrant population.

Sex Ratios of the Foreign Born in the United States
Migration Information Source, March 1, 2003
Data Manager Elizabeth Grieco examines the ratio of men to women among various foreign born groups in the United States.

Census 2010 and the Foreign Born: Averting the Data Crisis
Policy Brief No 1., February 2003
PDF Version  | Purchase from Bookstore

Foreign-Born Hispanics in the United States
Migration Information Source, February 1, 2003
Data Manager Elizabeth Grieco examines the size and distribution of the foreign-born Hispanic population throughout the United States.

Hispanos nacidos en el extranjero que viven en los Estados Unidos
Migration Information Source, February 1, 2003
La Gerente de Datos Elizabeth Grieco considera el tamaño y la distribución de la población hispana extranjera en los EEUU.

English Abilities of the US Foreign-Born Population
Migration Information Source, January 1, 2003

Defining 'Foreign Born' and 'Foreigner' in International Migration Statistics
Migration Information Source, July 2002

Spotlight on Immigrant Women
Migration Information Source, May 2002

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Susan Gzesh

America's Human Rights Challenge:
International Human Rights Implications of US Immigration Enforcement Actions Post-September 11
By Susan Gzesh, Senior Lecturer and Director of the Human Rights Program at the University of Chicago
In America’s Human Rights Challenge, the author examines how international human rights law can serve as a tool for the assessment of US immigration security measures and immigration enforcement practices post - 9/11.

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Kimberly A. Hamilton

"Realizing the Potential of Migrant 'Earn, Learn, and Return' Strategies: Does Policy Matter?"
By Kimberly Hamilton and Elizabeth Grieco
Commitment to Development Index
Center for Global Development, February 2004

Putting Data to Work for Immigrants and Communities: Tools for the Washington DC Metro Area and Beyond
Co-authored with Suzette Brooks Masters and Jill Wilson
March 2004
Information about immigrants--where they are from, where they live, and how they fare--has never been more important, or plentiful. At the same time, community organizations are working to respond to changing regional dynamics, often with limited resources. This report argues that it is vitally important for organizations to integrate fact-based knowledge of immigration into their day-to-day operations. The publication provides, in an easy to use fashion, the major data sources, training providers, data-related publications, and other useful contacts in metro DC area government, Census Bureau satellites, and universities that can be helpful to organizations working with immigrants or anyone interested in US immigration data. While the report focuses on the DC metropolitan region, the resource guide is relevant for all. The publication comes with a pullout wall chart with condensed guidelines for finding data and training.
Data Users Pullout Guide
Purchase from the MPI Store

Migration and Development: Blind Faith and Hard-to-Find Facts
Migration Information Source, November 1, 2003
Kim Hamilton, Managing Editor of The Source, outlines a research agenda for migration and development.

Italy's Southern Exposure
Migration Information Source, May 2002

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Maia Jachimowicz

Immigrants and Homeownership in Urban America: An Examination of Nativity, Socio-economic Status and Place
Co-authored with Brian Ray and Demetrios Papademetriou
April 2004
This study focuses on the top 100 U.S. metropolitan areas where immigrants live. The authors find key factors that influence homeownership among immigrants include availability of affordable housing, length of residence in the country, and English proficiency. While noting that immigrants are far from a homogenous group, the authors identify strategies that may increase immigrants' chances for homeownership.
"From Homeland to a Home: Immigrants and Homeownership in Urban America"
Fannie Mae Paper, March 2004
English | En Español

Observations on Regularization and the Labor Market Performance of Unauthorized and Regularized Immigrants
Co-authored with Demetrios G. Papademetriou and Kevin O'Neil
Prepared for the European Commission, DG Employment and Social Affairs
July 2004

U.S.-Canada-Mexico Fact Sheet on Trade and Migration
Co-authored with Deborah Meyers and Rebecca Jannol
November 2003
Facts and figures on national and regional trade, border crossings, temporary and permanent migration, and demographics.

Foreign Students and Exchange Visitors
Migration Information Source, September 1, 2003
Maia Jachimowicz looks at the large population of foreign students and educational exchange visitors in the United States and outlines recent policy developments affecting them.

Argentina's Economic Woes Spur Emigration
Migration Information Source, July 1, 2003
MPI's Maia Jachimowicz maps out the challenges ahead for Argentina, which is witnessing an outflow of people amidst continuing economic hardships.

Executive Summary, Women Immigrants in the United States
Co-authored with Deborah Meyers
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, March 2003

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Tamar Jacoby

An Idea Whose Time Has Finally Come? The Case for Employment Verification
By Tamar Jacoby, Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute
Task Force Policy Brief No. 9, November 2005
Although the Immigration Reform and Control Act made it a crime to hire unauthorized immigrants, it failed to give employers the tools they need to determine who is authorized to work and who isn't -- a reliable, automated employment verification system. The author suggests that what is needed is a process not unlike credit-card verification that allows employers to swipe a card at the point of hire and receive a response in real time from the Social Security Administration.

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Rebecca Jannol

U.S.-Canada-Mexico Fact Sheet on Trade and Migration
Co-authored with Deborah Meyers and Maia Jachimowicz
Facts and figures on national and regional trade, border crossings, temporary and permanent migration, and demographics.
November 2003

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Kevin Jernegan

Eligible to Work: Experiments in Verifying Work Authorization
Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future Insight No. 8, November 2005

Documentation Provisions of the Real ID Act
Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future Backgrounder, November 2005

Backlogs in Immigration Processing Persist
Fact Sheet, June 2005
Over the last fifteen years, the number of pending applications for immigration benefits in the United States has swollen by over 1,000 percent, growing from 540,688 in 1990 to a high of 6.08 million in 2003. This fact sheet provides insight into the factors that have contributed to protracted processing delays, or the backlog.

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Donald Kerwin

Revisiting the Need for Appointed Counsel
Insight No. 4, May 2005
Author Donald Kerwin makes the case that increasing legal representation for indigent immigrants in removal proceedings ensures that these critical decisions are based on legal standards rather than income. The report finds striking discrepancies in outcomes between those with counsel and those who must represent themselves. Based on these findings, Mr. Kerwin recommends several ways to expand or increase legal representation, benefiting immigrants and promoting more efficient proceedings and correct legal determinations for the government.

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Douglas Klusmeyer

Citizenship Policies for an Age of Migration
Co-authored with Alexander T. Aleinikoff
(Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, May 2002)

Citizenship Today: Global Perspectives and Practices
Co-authored with Alexander T. Aleinikoff
(Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2001)

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Dawn Konet

Document Security Provisions: What's in the Cards?
By Dawn Konet
Fact Sheet No. 17, June 2007
This Fact Sheet provides a chart of the security features -- from photos and fingerprints to holograms and lamination -- of documents issued by government agencies and used by US residents to work, travel and verify their identities. Notably, there have been no significant security changes to the Social Security card, one of the most commonly used to show work eligibility.

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Rey Koslowski

Room for Progress: Reinventing Euro-Atlantic Borders for a New Strategic Environment
By Deborah W. Meyers, Rey Koslowski, and Susan Ginsburg, October 2007
Ever-increasing economic and political integration of the European Union and deeper economic and security partnerships among the United States, Canada, and Mexico are creating new models of border management. A new MPI report describes recently established US and EU enforcement agencies, benefits and limitations of new information technology, and contentious developments surrounding visa-free travel policy.
Full Report | Press Release

Real Challenges for Virtual Borders: The Implementation of US-VISIT
By Rey Koslowski, Associate Professor of Political Science, Rutgers University-Newark
June 2005
This report finds that while the US-VISIT program may deter terrorists from attempting to enter the United States through legal channels, it alone probably will not catch them. The entry-exit tracking system for foreign nationals traveling to the United States was initially designed as an immigration enforcement tool and then recast into a counterterrorism role after September 11. However, the program will need a clearer mandate and serious investments of political and economic capital to provide more than an illusion of national security.

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Laureen Laglagaron

The Redesigned Citizenship Test: High Stakes
By Laureen Laglagaron and Bhavna Devani
MPI Backgrounder No. 6, September 2008
More than a decade in the making, the redesigned citizenship test required for use after October 1, 2008 is supposed to provide a more meaningful opportunity for applicants to demonstrate knowledge about US history and civics, and allow the government more standardized test administration. This MPI Backgrounder details the redesign process, examines whether the government met its goals, and provides policy recommendations.
Backgrounder | Press Release

Los Angeles on the Leading Edge: Immigrant Integration Indicators and Their Policy Implications
By Michael Fix, Margie McHugh, Aaron Matteo Terrazas, and Laureen Laglagaron
April 2008
As Los Angeles makes the transition from being a city of immigrants to one dominated by their US-born children, it can serve as a policy laboratory for other cities facing the need to better integrate immigrants into US classrooms, workplaces, and civic life. MPI’s report details the imperative for integration policies that will benefit immigrants and the broader US society alike.
Download Report | Press Release

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Nina Lassen

Study on the Transfer of Protection Status in the EU
By Nina M. Lassen with Leise Egesberg, Joanne van Selm with Eleni Tsolakis, and Jeroen Doomernik
June 25, 2004

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Paul Leseman

Early Education for Immigrant Children
By Paul Leseman, Utrecht University
Report of the Transatlantic Task Force on Immigration and Integration, September 2007
Dr. Leseman looks at factors that create educational disadvantages among children of immigrants, including socioeconomic and psychological risks and lack of cognitive stimulation at home. He finds that while early education can improve the educational and socioeconomic position of low-income and minority communities, the program’s design is fundamental to its success. He recommends that policymakers focus on providing center-based care, with programs grounded in teaching children the host language and with strong outreach to minorities that includes additional help for parents. He also recommends that governments directly subsidize early-education programs rather than providing parents with vouchers, which can be confusing and are underused.

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David Martin
Nonresident Fellow and the Warner-Booker Distinguished Professor of International Law at the University of Virginia

Twilight Statuses: A Closer Examination of the Unauthorized Population
Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future Policy Brief No. 2, June 2005
Approximately 1 - 1.5 million people hold current or eventual claims to legal status recognized by U.S. law because they are caught in processing or admissions quota backlogs or have been granted temporary protected status (TPS). This "twilight status" of partial but not full lawful residence "sends mixed signals that undermine both the enforcement goals and the services or benefits goals of the immigration system," according to report author David A. Martin. He suggests policy changes that speed processing of legal status claims for certain family members of lawful residents and create incentives for those with TPS to return when their temporary status expires.

The United States Refugee Admissions Program: Reforms for a New Era of Refugee Resettlement
Summer 2005
In this study commissioned by the US State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, David Martin presents a comprehensive picture of the selection and admissions processes for refugees resettling in the United States. The book is a valuable resource for resettlement agencies, advocacy groups, state refugee coordinators, and others who need a thorough understanding of the way resettlement works. The report also examines the flaws in resettlement practices and offers a detailed set of recommendations to improve the program.
Executive Summary | Purchase from Bookstore

Immigrant Policy and the Homeland Security Act Reorganization
Insight No. 1, April 2003
PDF Version  | Purchase from Bookstore

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Susan Martin

US Employment-Based Admissions: Permanent and Temporary
By Susan Martin, Institute for the Study of International Migration, Georgetown University
Task Force Policy Brief No. 15, January 2006
The pros and cons of existing temporary worker programs in the United States include giving employers a chance to test employees for their contributions to society and the economy, but in some cases, making temporary workers vulnerable to exploitation because they are dependent on specific employers or jobs for their legal status.

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Margie McHugh
Co-Director, National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy

Los Angeles on the Leading Edge: Immigrant Integration Indicators and Their Policy Implications
By Michael Fix, Margie McHugh, Aaron Matteo Terrazas, and Laureen Laglagaron
April 2008
As Los Angeles makes the transition from being a city of immigrants to one dominated by their US-born children, it can serve as a policy laboratory for other cities facing the need to better integrate immigrants into US classrooms, workplaces, and civic life. MPI’s report details the imperative for integration policies that will benefit immigrants and the broader US society alike.
Download Report | Press Release

Immigration Fee Increases in Context
By Julia Gelatt and Margie McHugh
Fact Sheet No. 15, February 2007
US Citizenship Immigration Services has announced plans for an 80 percent increase in naturalization application fees. The fact sheet details the increased fees' implications for US immigrants and provides background on USCIS' call for higher fees.

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Doris Meissner
Senior Fellow and Director, US Immigration Policy Program

Social Security “No Match” Letters: A Primer
MPI Backgrounder No. 5, October 2007
A US District Court Judge has ruled that a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulation regarding Social Security Administration (SSA) “no match” letters cannot be implemented. This MPI Backgrounder shows that, based on 2006 information, the DHS procedures would have affected more than 1.5 million workers, with approximately 1 million concentrated in ten states.

Immigration and America's Future:
A New Chapter
Final report of the Independent Task Force co-chaired by Spencer Abraham and Lee H. Hamilton
The bipartisan group of public policy experts, immigration stakeholders, and elected officials undertook careful analysis of the economic, social, and demographic factors driving today’s large-scale immigration. The Task Force has concluded that immigration is essential to US national interests and will become even more so in the years ahead. However, the system is outdated, overly complex, and inflexible; it no longer serves the nation’s needs. The Task Force recommends that the United States fundamentally rethink its policies and overhaul how it manages immigration to better harness the benefits and minimize the disadvantages of immigration.

Backlogs in Immigration Processing Persist
By Doris Meissner, Elizabeth Grieco and Kevin Jernegan
Fact Sheet, June 2005
Over the last fifteen years, the number of pending applications for immigration benefits in the United States has swollen by over 1,000 percent, growing from 540,688 in 1990 to a high of 6.08 million in 2003. This fact sheet provides insight into the factors that have contributed to protracted processing delays, or the backlog.

America's Challenge: Domestic Security, Civil Liberties, and National Unity after September 11
Co-authored with Demetrios G. Papademetriou, Jay Peterzell, Muzaffar Chishti, Michael J. Wishnie and Stephen W. Yale-Loehr
Report, June 2003
MPI’s report draws on extensive interviews with policymakers and community leaders across the United States, and on comprehensive information assembled about the 'secret' detentions after the terrorist attacks. It presents detailed recommendations on how to incorporate immigration law and policy into national strategies that confront the threat of terrorism, uphold the rule of law, and preserve the cohesion that is one of the country’s strongest security assets.

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Deborah W. Meyers
Senior Policy Analyst

Room for Progress: Reinventing Euro-Atlantic Borders for a New Strategic Environment
By Deborah W. Meyers, Rey Koslowski, and Susan Ginsburg, October 2007
Ever-increasing economic and political integration of the European Union and deeper economic and security partnerships among the United States, Canada, and Mexico are creating new models of border management. A new MPI report describes recently established US and EU enforcement agencies, benefits and limitations of new information technology, and contentious developments surrounding visa-free travel policy.
Full Report | Press Release

Legal Immigration to the United States Increased Substantially in FY 2005
Co-authored with Julia Gelatt
October 2006
In Fiscal Year 2005, the most recent year for which data are available: Lawful permanent immigration grew by 17 percent and naturalizations increased by almost 13 percent from FY 2004. The number of people who adjusted their status to lawful permanent residence increased 26 percent, explaining much of the overall growth. Refugee admissions rose slightly from FY 2004, but remained below pre-9/11 levels. The level of temporary visitors rebounded to near pre-9/11 levels.

Immigration and America's Future:
A New Chapter
Final report of the Independent Task Force co-chaired by Spencer Abraham and Lee H. Hamilton
The bipartisan group of public policy experts, immigration stakeholders, and elected officials undertook careful analysis of the economic, social, and demographic factors driving today’s large-scale immigration. The Task Force has concluded that immigration is essential to US national interests and will become even more so in the years ahead. However, the system is outdated, overly complex, and inflexible; it no longer serves the nation’s needs. The Task Force recommends that the United States fundamentally rethink its policies and overhaul how it manages immigration to better harness the benefits and minimize the disadvantages of immigration.

Temporary Worker Programs: A Patchwork Policy Response
By Deborah W. Meyers
Task Force Insight No. 12, January 2006
In fiscal year 2004, the volume of admissions to the United States for temporary workers, trainees, and their dependants reached nearly 1.5 million people. Within these employment-based visa categories, temporary workers have dramatic variations of stay that range from three months to ten years, and many are transitioning to the permanent system.

Legal Immigration to the United States Up from Last Year
By Julia Gelatt and Deborah Meyers
Fact Sheet No. 12, November 2005

US Border Enforcement: From Horseback to High-Tech
Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future Insight No. 7, November 2005

United States-Canada-Mexico Trade and Migration
Co-authored with Megan Davy
Fact Sheet, October 2005
Fact Sheet | Press Release

One Face at the Border: Behind the Slogan
By Deborah Meyers, MPI Policy Analyst
June 2005
Author Deborah Meyers finds that in less than two years, the Department of Homeland Security’s ambitious One Face at the Border initiative has made strides toward creating a unified agency to inspect people and goods at U.S. air, land and sea ports. However, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must still address significant weaknesses that could undermine border security if they are not confronted squarely and soon.
Full Report | Press Release | Event

Legal Immigration to US Still Declining
By Deborah Meyers
Fact Sheet No. 9, October 2004

International Agreements of the Social Security Administration
Fact Sheet No. 6, January 2004
Part of MPI's Immigration Fact Sheet series on current issues, this release includes information on what a Social Security "totalization" agreement between the United States and Mexico means, how many Mexicans would be eligible, how much it would cost, and who can earn benefits.

US Immigration Since September 11, 2001
By Elizabeth Grieco, Deborah Meyers, and Kathleen Newland
Fact Sheet No. 1, September 2003

Security at US Borders: A Move Away from Unilateralism?
Migration Information Source, August 1, 2003
MPI Policy Analyst Deborah Waller Meyers examines the Smart Border agreements signed by the US with Canada and Mexico in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Does 'Smarter' Lead to Safer? An Assessment of the Border Accords with Canada and Mexico
Insight No. 2, June 2003
PDF Version  | Purchase from Bookstore

Executive Summary, Women Immigrants in the United States
Co-authored with Maia Jachimowicz
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, March 2003

U.S.-Canada-Mexico Fact Sheet on Trade and Migration
Co-authored with Rebecca Jannol and Maia Jachimowicz
November 2003
Facts and figures on national and regional trade, border crossings, temporary and permanent migration, and demographics.

The US-Mexico Immigration Relationship: Operating in a New Context
Co-authored with Demetrios Papademetriou
Foreign Affairs en Español, Spring 2002
(Read in Spanish)

Reconcilable Differences? An Evaluation of Current INS Restructuring Proposals
Co-authored with Demetrios Papademetriou
Policy Brief No. 1, June 2002

Caught in the Middle: Border Communities in an Era of Globalization
Co-edited with Demetrios Papademetriou
October 2001

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MPI Staff

U.S. Immigration Since September 11, 2001
September 9, 2003
While the level of overall immigration to the United States has remained remarkably steady since September 11, 2001, the number of temporary visas has dropped by 15 percent and refugee admissions have plummeted to a 25-year low, according to analysts at the Migration Policy Institute. Here is data on immigrants to the United States and analysis of what these figures mean in terms of U.S. policy.

Immigration and National Security Post-Sept. 11: Updated Chronology (Through May 1, 2003)
Migration Information Source, May 1, 2003
This updated timeline of key developments since September 11 tracks the latest connections between immigration and national security.

Data Sources on the Foreign Born and International Migration at the US Census Bureau
Migration Information Source, January 1, 2003
This article maps out the key features of three of the primary US Census Bureau data resources used to research immigration: the census itself, the American Community Survey, and the Current Population Survey.

Forced Migration Review, September 11: Has Anything Changed? (PDF)
Co-editors
June 2002

MPI Background Paper on Immigration and National Security
Recommendations released on September 28, 2001

Immigrants, Their Families, and Their Communities in the Aftermath of Welfare Reform
Audrey Singer, Editor
Research Perspectives on Migration
Migration Policy Institute and Urban Institute
Spring 2001

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Kara Murphy

France's New Law:
Control Immigration Flows, Court the Highly Skilled
By Kara Murphy
Backgrounder, November 2006

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Julie Murray

Measures of Change: The Demography and Literacy of Adolescent English Learners
Co-authored with Michael Fix and Julie Murray
Report, March 2007
This new report provides a demographic profile of students in grades 6-12 who are English Language Learners (ELLs) and focuses on how these students are faring on standardized tests at the national level and in four states: California, Colorado, Illinois, and North Carolina. The authors find wide achievement gaps between ELL and other students at both national and state levels -- a finding with worrying implications for schools trying to meet requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act.

America's Emigrants: US Retirement to Mexico and Panama
While US policy focuses on immigration from Mexico and Latin America, a new MPI study identifies a reverse trend: increasing numbers of senior citizens from the United States moving to Mexico and Panama to retire. With the US Census estimating that the population over 65 in the United States will double by the year 2030, understanding new and growing trends in international retirement migration will become increasingly important as baby boomers age.

The Impact of Immigration on Native Workers: A Fresh Look at the Evidence
Co-authored with Julie Murray and Michael Fix
Task Force Insight No. 18, July 2006
The authors carefully consider the extensive literature regarding the "competition question" of immigration's effects for natives. Contrary to much rhetoric in the current debate, the authors conclude that the question of whether increased immigration decreases native workers’ wages has yet to be resolved. They find that recent research diverges sharply on whether immigrants lower US-born workers' wages or, in fact, work in a complementary way to boost wages, particularly for high-skilled natives. Turning then to displacement, the authors note that researchers have more consistently found that there is some job displacement, or at least growing exclusion, of native workers in industries or areas with many immigrants.  This trend holds for low-skilled workers and/or African-American natives.  The authors write that changes in labor or capital, such as native out-migration or the entry of new industries into a region, can lessen the impacts of immigration on native wages or employment or spread the effects through a larger market.

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Kathleen Newland
Director, Migrants, Migration and Refugees and Refugee Policy Programs

Learning by Doing: Experiences of Circular Migration
By Kathleen Newland, Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, and Aaron Terrazas
Increasingly, policymakers are considering whether circular migration could improve the likelihood that global mobility gains will be shared by migrant-origin and destination countries alike — as well as by migrants themselves. This MPI Insight examines the record of circular migration, both where it has arisen naturally and where governments have taken action to encourage it.

The Iraqi Refugee Crisis: The Need for Action
Co-authored with Kelly O'Donnell
Report, January 2008
As border restrictions both within and outside Iraq tighten and sectarian violence persists, the options for Iraq's estimated 4.5 million internally and externally displaced appear bleak. MPI's report on the Iraqi refugee crisis examines the situation in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, as well as the response of the United States and select EU Member States.

Bridging Divides: The Role of Ethnic Community-Based Organizations in Refugee Integration
By Kathleen Newland, Hiroyuki Tanaka, and Laura Barker
Migration Policy Institute and the International Rescue Committee, June 2007
Almost 2.4 million refugees and asylees from at least 115 countries entered the United States between 1980 and 2006.  Despite declines in refugee admissions, the United States continues to resettle more refugees than any other country. A new study released for World Refugee Day on June 20 examines how organizations founded by refugees are helping others who have escaped violence and persecution abroad adjust to life in the United States. 

Circular Migration and Development: Trends, Policy Routes, and Ways Forward
Co-authored with Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias
Policy Brief, April 2007
Circular migration, the temporary or permanent return of migrants to their countries of origin, is seen as offering benefits to countries of migrant origin, to destination countries, and to migrants themselves. The most common policy route to encourage circulation has been to ensure that migrants maintain ties with their countries of origin, by providing financial incentives to return or by enforcing strict measures to prevent their remaining permanently in destination countries. Experience from many countries shows that this conventional set of policies has not, and in all probability will not, work on its own. Effective circular migration arrangements call for policies that strengthen ties to countries of both origin and destination. An environment that helps migrants to reach their goals—as manifested for instance by accumulated savings, newly acquired skills, and successful business ventures—is most likely to foster temporary or permanent return.

Beyond Remittances: The Role of Diaspora in Poverty Reduction in Their Countries of Origin
Co-authored with Erin Patrick
Published by the Department for International Development (UK), July 2004
This paper examines the role of diaspora in poverty reduction through four main areas of focus: policy and practice toward diaspora by countries of origin; diaspora economic, social and political engagement in countries of origin; donor engagement with diaspora; and recommendations to maximize the contribution of diaspora to development and poverty reduction. The report includes case studies of China, India, the Philippines, Mexico, Eritrea, and Taiwan, which are used to illustrate six contrasting patterns.

US Immigration Since September 11, 2001
By Elizabeth Grieco, Deborah Meyers, and Kathleen Newland
Fact Sheet No. 1, September 2003

No Refuge: The Challenge of Internal Displacement
Co-authored with Erin Patrick and Monette Zard
October 2003

Migration as a Factor in Development and Poverty Reduction
Migration Information Source, June 1, 2003
MPI Co-Director Kathleen Newland provides a concise overview of the impact of rich country migration policies on poor country development.

Troubled Waters: Rescue of Asylum Seekers and Refugees at Sea
Migration Information Source, January 1, 2003
Danger often awaits people who set out by boat, seeking safety from upheaval or persecution. MPI Co-Director Kathleen Newland examines how governments, the shipping industry, and international bodies have succeeded — or too frequently, failed — to cast a line to those in need.

Introductory Article to "September 11: Has Anything Changed?"
Co-authored with Erin Patrick, Joanne van Selm, and Monette Zard
Forced Migration Review, June 2002

Refugee Protection and Assistance
Managing Global Issues: Lessons Learned
(Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2001)
(To Order Book)

A Nation Displaced: Afghanistan
Co-authored with Erin Patrick
WorldView Magazine
Fall 2001, Volume 14, Number 4

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Edward Newman

Refugees and Forced Displacement:
International Security, Human Vulnerability and the State
Co-edited with Joanne van Selm

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Gregory Noll

Rediscovering Resettlement
A Transatlantic Comparison of Refugee Protection
Co-authored with Gregor Noll
Could increasing the numbers of refugees who have access to resettlement help resolve some of the refugee protection challenges faced by the European Union and the United States?

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Kelly O'Donnell

The Iraqi Refugee Crisis: The Need for Action
Co-authored with Kathleen Newland
Report, January 2008
As border restrictions both within and outside Iraq tighten and sectarian violence persists, the options for Iraq's estimated 4.5 million internally and externally displaced appear bleak. MPI's report on the Iraqi refugee crisis examines the situation in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, as well as the response of the United States and select EU Member States.

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Kevin O'Neil

Lessons From The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future Policy Brief No. 3
Co-authored with Betsy Cooper
August 2005

Efficient Practices for the Selection of Economic Migrants
Co-authored with Demetrios G. Papademetriou
Prepared for the European Commission, DG Employment and Social Affairs
July 2004

Observations on Regularization and the Labor Market Performance of Unauthorized and Regularized Immigrants
Co-authored with By Demetrios G. Papademetriou and Maia Jachimowicz
Prepared for the European Commission, DG Employment and Social Affairs
July 2004

Brain Drain and Gain: The Case of Taiwan
Migration Information Source, September 1, 2003
MPI's Kevin O'Neil takes a close look at how Taiwan has reaped economic benefits from high-skilled migration.

Remittances from the United States in Context
Migration Information Source, June 1, 2003
Research Assistant Kevin O'Neil outlines key aspects of remittances from the United States

Discussion on Migration and Development: Using Remittances and Circular Migration as Drivers for Development
April 2003

Consular ID Cards: Mexico