Visa Policy

Still an Hourglass? Immigrant Workers in Middle-Skilled Jobs

Immigrant employment grew fastest in middle-skilled jobs after 2000; the 2007–09 recession hit less-educated immigrant workers hardest, erasing many of these gains.

The Impact of Immigrants in Recession and Economic Expansion

Immigration delivers long-run productivity but can reduce native employment during economic slowdowns. Linking visa numbers to employer demand can yield better outcomes.

Immigration and the United States: Recession Affects Flows, Prospects for Reform

The U.S. recession reshaped immigration flows and dimmed prospects for reform, even as the Obama administration revamped enforcement and legal immigration systems.

The UK's New Europeans: Progress and Challenges Five Years After Accession

Five years after EU Union enlargement in 2004, eastern European workers were well employed in the United Kingdom but often stuck in low-wage, low-skilled jobs.

Talent, Competitiveness, and Migration

This book release and discussion focused on the accumulation of talent and its effects on economic growth and migration trends.

A New Proposal to Address U.S. Immigration Future Flow Needs

Report release with MPI Senior Fellow and Director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program; MPI Associate Policy Analyst; MPI Senior Policy Analyst; National Immigration Forum Senior Advisor; and ImmigrationWorks USA President.

Aligning Temporary Immigration Visas with U.S. Labor Market Needs: The Case for a New System of Provisional Visas

This paper outlines MPI’s design of a flexible provisional visa that would tie temporary labor inflows to real-time demand while offering workers who meet clear criteria pathways to stay.

Talent, Competitiveness and Migration

Obama's Homeland Security Selection Viewed as Focused on Immigration

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano's centrist record on immigration left policy experts speculating about the future of U.S. enforcement under the Obama administration.

The Recession-Proof Race for Highly Skilled Migrants

Gloomy economic forecasts have not slowed the global hunt for highly skilled migrants.