Claire Bergeron
Claire Bergeron is a former Associate Policy Analyst with the U.S. Immigration Program at the Migration Policy Institute, where she worked on immigration enforcement issues and co-authored the “Policy Beat” for the Migration Information Source, the Institute's online journal.
Prior to joining MPI, Ms. Bergeron worked as a paralegal and Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) Accredited Representative at the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) in Chicago.
She holds a BA in anthropology and legal studies from Northwestern University and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where she was a member of the editorial board for the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal.
Explore Content by Claire Bergeron
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Temporary Protected Status in the United States: A Grant of Humanitarian Relief that Is Less than Permanent
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) leaves beneficiaries in extended limbo, as U.S. debates grow over renewals and paths to permanent status.
Hazleton Immigration Ordinance That Began With a Bang Goes Out With a Whimper
In a decision that received little notice, the Supreme Court in mid-March declined to review federal appellate decisions that struck down controversial local immigration ordinances in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and Farmers Branch, Texas—bringing to a close a contentious chapter in immigration litigation. This article also explores President Obama’s decision to order a review of deportation policies, Chile’s admission into the Visa Waiver Program, and more.
As Bill to Overhaul U.S. Immigration System Stalls in Congress, Immigration Reform Movement Broadens, Ups the Ante
The U.S. Senate passed its most significant immigration legislation since 2006 in 2013, only to watch it stall in the House.
Remaking the U.S. Green Card System: Legal Immigration under the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013
The Senate's 2013 comprehensive immigration reform bill would grow skills-based green cards nearly fourfold while preserving family admissions.
Going to the Back of the Line: A Primer on Lines, Visa Categories, and Wait Times
No single immigration "line" leads to lawful U.S. permanent residence, and existing re-entry bars trap many unauthorized immigrants who would otherwise be eligible to legalize.
Immigration Reform Returns to Center Stage of U.S. Politics
For the first time since 2007, bipartisan U.S. immigration reform proposals put legalization for unauthorized immigrants on the table.
New DHS Rule Will Help Expedite Permanent Residence for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens
A 2013 regulation lets immediate relatives of U.S. citizens apply for provisional unlawful presence waivers from within the United States.
Immigration Enforcement in the United States: The Rise of a Formidable Machinery
The United States has built a formidable immigration enforcement system, spending nearly $187 billion since 1986—more than on all other principal federal criminal law enforcement combined.
Deferred Action Program Revives Debate over Driver’s Licenses for Unauthorized Immigrants
DACA's rollout split U.S. states on driver's licenses for unauthorized immigrants, while a years-long decline in such policies showed signs of reversing.
U.S. Election Realigns Stars for Immigration Reform, But Significant Hurdles Remain
President Barack Obama's reelection energized bipartisan support for immigration reform that could include legalization for up to 11 million unauthorized immigrants.