Rethinking U.S. Immigration Policy
This multiyear MPI initiative is generating a big-picture, evidence-driven vision of the role immigration can and should play in America’s future. Drawing from research, data analysis, and insights gained from convenings of key stakeholders across the spectrum, the Initiative is providing policy ideas and proposals—both administrative and legislative—that reflect new realities and needs for immigration to continue to be a comparative advantage for the United States as a society.
Among the key topics covered: The economic, labor market, and demographic impacts of immigration; immigration and national security; humanitarian, family-, and skills-based immigration; immigration enforcement; and immigrant integration.
Historically, across-the-aisle cooperation and consensus building have been essential for immigration policymaking and legislation to succeed. MPI is committed to re-energizing such bipartisanship in shaping and advancing feasible solutions for a system that is widely acknowledged as being broken.
Read the initiative Concept Note, Rethinking U.S. Immigration Policy: New Realities Call for New Answers.
Showing 11–17 of 17 results
Navigating the Future of Work: The Role of Immigrant-Origin Workers in the Changing U.S. Economy
Immigrant-origin workers drove 83 percent of U.S. labor force growth from 2010 to 2018 and face similar automation and job-decline risks as their native-born peers.
Rethinking the U.S.-Mexico Border Immigration Enforcement System: A Policy Road Map
This road map urges restructuring U.S.-Mexico border enforcement into an enduring function, marrying effective border security with fair, humane enforcement and increased cooperation.
Immigration and U.S. National Security: The State of Play Since 9/11
Post-9/11 reforms strengthened U.S. immigration security, but misplaced priorities now divert resources from real threats to pursue low-risk migrants.
From Control to Crisis: Changing Trends and Policies Reshaping U.S.-Mexico Border Enforcement
Punitive enforcement-only measures failed to stem record flows of Central American families at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2019, underscoring the need for a new approach.
Immigration and the U.S. Labor Market: A Look Ahead
As aging and low birth rates drag on U.S. economic growth, expanding legal immigration offers a key tool to bolster the workforce, fill skill gaps, and spur entrepreneurship.
How Does Immigration Fit into the Future of the U.S. Labor Market?
Workforce aging and slowing labor force growth make a compelling case for expanding employment-based immigration as a driver of U.S. economic productivity.
The U.S. Asylum System in Crisis: Charting a Way Forward
The U.S. asylum system's growing backlog demands administrative reforms and necessary funding, not just enforcement restrictions, to restore timely, fair protection.
