Michael Fix
Michael Fix is a Senior Fellow at the Migration Policy Institute and previously served as its President. He joined MPI in 2005, as Co-Director of the National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy and later assumed positions as Senior Vice President, Director of Studies, and CEO.
Mr. Fix’s research focus is on immigrant integration and the education of immigrant children in the United States and Europe, as well as citizenship policy, immigrant children and families, the effect of welfare reform on immigrants, and the impact of immigrants on the U.S. labor force.
Prior to joining MPI, Mr. Fix was Director of Immigration Studies at the Urban Institute in Washington, DC, where his focus was on immigration and integration policy, race and the measurement of discrimination, and federalism.
Mr. Fix was a member of the National Research Council’s Committee on the Integration of Immigrants into U.S. Society, which produced a seminal study on the integration of immigrants in the United States.
Previously, he served on the National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on the Redesign of U.S. Naturalization Tests and on the Committee on the Health and Adjustment of Immigrant Children. He also served as a member of the Advisory Panel to the Foundation for Child Development’s Young Scholars Program. In 2005 he was appointed to the State of Illinois’ New Americans Advisory Council, and in 2009 to the State of Maryland’s Council for New Americans. In 2024, he was awarded an Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his work in the field of immigration.
Mr. Fix received a JD from the University of Virginia and a bachelor of the arts degree from Princeton University. He did additional graduate work at the London School of Economics.
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Explore Content by Michael Fix
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Rooted in the Valley: Immigrants in Napa County’s Communities and Economy
Immigrants made up 29 percent of Napa County’s workforce as of 2019–23, with those working in the wine and hospitality industry generating an estimated $1.5 billion in county GDP.
Repealing Birthright Citizenship Would Significantly Increase the Size of the U.S. Unauthorized Population
Repealing birthright citizenship for babies born on U.S. soil to unauthorized immigrants or temporary visa holders would have a contrary result from its stated aim of reducing the unauthorized immigrant population. Projections from MPI and Penn State show that ending birthright citizenship would increase the unauthorized population by 2.7 million as of 2045 and by 5.4 million as of 2075.
The Overlooked Impact of Immigration on the Size of the Future U.S. Workforce
Immigrant-origin individuals have been the driving force behind U.S. demographic growth in the United States over the past two decades. Changing immigration policy could significantly influence how this population helps the country manage its demographic shifts and rising old-age dependency ratio. This short read and accompanying data tool offer first-ever projections of the size of the immigrant-origin working-age population to 2040 under varying immigration scenarios.
How Immigrants and Their U.S.-Born Children Fit into the Future U.S. Labor Market
Immigrants and their U.S.-born children have driven all U.S. labor force growth since 2000 but face the need to upskill as nearly three-quarters of jobs in 2031 will require postsecondary credentials.
Immigration and Integration in the Ever More Diverse Houston Area
Immigrants help power Houston’s economy. Yet 67,000 college-educated immigrants are underemployed and integration services lag the region’s rapid diversification.
Shared Gains: Immigrant-Origin Students in U.S. Colleges
Immigrant-origin students represent a growing share of U.S. college enrollment, rising from one in five pupils in 2000 to one in three as of 2021—cushioning overall enrollment declines.
Understanding Poverty Declines among Immigrants and Their Children in the United States
Immigrant poverty in the United States fell 36 percent between 2009 and 2021, driven by economic recovery, a wider safety net, and pandemic aid that reached many noncitizen families.
Recommendations for the Task Force on New Americans
The Task Force on New Americans should consider upgrading adult education and embedding equity in federal programs to better support immigrant integration.
The Skills and Economic Outcomes of Immigrant and U.S.-Born College Graduates
Immigrant college graduates match or exceed U.S.-born peers economically, yet the skills of one-fifth of them are underutilized. The gap can be closed with English skills training and credential reform.
Diverging Pathways: Immigrants’ Legal Status and Access to Postsecondary Credentials
Most of the nearly 24 million U.S. immigrants lacking credentials in 2019 had legal status and Pell Grant eligibility; unauthorized immigrants were barred from federal education support.
