Jessica Bolter
Jessica Bolter was an Associate Policy Analyst with the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at MPI. Her research focused on migration patterns at the U.S.-Mexico border, extracontinental migration in the Americas, immigration enforcement, and asylum and refugee issues.
She previously interned with MPI, the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, the Ohio Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs, and the Center for Democracy in the Americas.
Ms. Bolter holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies and Spanish area studies from Kenyon College, where she focused on relations between the United States and Latin America.
Explore Content by Jessica Bolter
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Welcoming Afghans and Ukrainians to the United States: A Case in Similarities and Contrasts
The United States used humanitarian parole to admit displaced Afghans and Ukrainians. But without congressional action, both groups face uncertain futures and no pathway to permanent residence.
Rise in Maritime Migration to the United States Is a Reminder of Chapters Past
Caribbean maritime migration to the United States has surged to 1990s-level highs, driven by crises in Haiti and Cuba and constrained legal pathways.
Controversial U.S. Title 42 Expulsions Policy Is Coming to an End, Bringing New Border Challenges
The end of the use of Title 42 after 1.7 million expulsions at the U.S.-Mexico border promises to reshape processing, but the transition poses major challenges for the Biden administration.
Four Years of Profound Change: Immigration Policy during the Trump Presidency
President Donald Trump's administration completed 472 executive actions from 2017 to 2021, narrowing humanitarian protections and restricting legal immigration.
Biden at the One-Year Mark: A Greater Change in Direction on Immigration Than Is Recognized
The Biden administration 's first year brought sweeping but underappreciated immigration changes even as border challenges remained unresolved.
Immigration Has Been a Defining, Often Contentious, Element Throughout U.S. History
Largely unchanged since 1965, the U.S. immigration system is buckling under record backlogs, enforcement costs, and deepening partisan gridlock.
Court-Ordered Relaunch of Remain in Mexico Policy Tweaks Predecessor Program, but Faces Similar Challenges
The court-ordered revival of Remain in Mexico for certain asylum seekers affects a Trump-era program with a troubled record.
U.S. Immigration Reform Denied: Destined to Repeat the Cycle of Failure?
Immigration reform failed in 2006, 2007, and 2013—so what would it take to break the cycle?
African Migration through the Americas: Drivers, Routes, and Policy Responses
African migrants increasingly transit the Americas via the Darién Gap, though COVID-19 disrupted flows in 2020. Coordinated regional policy responses are needed.
Migración africana a través del continente americano: impulsores, rutas y respuestas normativas
Las detenciones de migrantes africanos en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México alcanzaron 5,000 en 2019; se requieren respuestas regionales coordinadas.
