Muzaffar Chishti
Muzaffar Chishti, a lawyer, is an MPI Senior Fellow and Director of the MPI office at New York University School of Law. His work focuses on U.S. immigration policy at the federal, state, and local levels; the intersection of labor and immigration law; immigration enforcement; civil liberties; and immigrant integration.
Prior to joining MPI, Mr. Chishti was Director of the Immigration Project of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial & Textile Employees (UNITE).
Mr. Chishti serves on the board of the New York Immigration Coalition. He has served as Chairman of the Boards of Directors of the National Immigration Forum and the National Immigration Law Center, as a member of the American Bar Association’s Coordinating Committee on Immigration, and on the board of the Asian American Federation.
Mr. Chishti has testified extensively on immigration policy issues before Congress and is frequently quoted in the media. In 1992, as part of a U.S. team, he assisted the Russian Parliament in drafting its legislation on forced migrants and refugees. He is a 1994 recipient of the New York State Governor's Award for Outstanding Asian Americans and a 1995 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
Mr. Chishti was educated at St. Stephen's College, Delhi; the University of Delhi; Cornell Law School; and the Columbia School of International Affairs.
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Explore Content by Muzaffar Chishti
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Breaking the Cycle of Dysfunction at the U.S. Immigration Courts
With 3.8 million deportation cases pending as of mid-2025, the U.S. immigration courts faced a deepening crisis requiring urgent legislative and administrative reform.
U.S. Immigrant Detention Grows to Record Heights under Trump Administration
U.S. immigrant detention hit historic highs under President Donald Trump’s second term, with record funding and private prison expansion. Most detainees had no criminal convictions.
22nd Annual Immigration Law and Policy Conference
Featuring a keynote by CNN's Fareed Zakaria, this conference explored pressing U.S. immigration issues, from mass deportations' and enforcement to legal services and the immigration court system.
Trump Administration’s Expansion of Fast-Track Deportation Powers Is Transforming Immigration Enforcement
The Trump administration is using fast-track deportation powers on an unprecedented scale as it seeks to carry out 1 million deportations annually.
Beyond ICE: State and Local Authorities Become Central to Trump Administration Deportations Strategy
The Trump administration is deputizing state and local officers at record scale, reshaping U.S. immigration enforcement through 287(g) agreements, new funding, and legal pressures.
Can the Trump Administration’s “Self-Deportation” Campaign Succeed?
The Trump administration's “self-deportation” campaign pairs incentives for immigrants to leave with threats of steep fines and arrests for staying. Historical precedents suggest limited voluntary uptake.
Seeking to Ramp Up Deportations, the Trump Administration Quietly Expands a Vast Web of Data
The Trump administration is building an unprecedented data network for immigration enforcement—tapping sensitive tax, health, and benefits records—raising privacy concerns for immigrants and citizens alike.
Immigration Actions in First 100 Days of Trump Second Term
Analysts assessed the most consequential immigration actions taken during the first 100 days of President Trump's second term, detailed the litigation picture, and analyzed some of the early effects of policies on U.S. communities.
In First 100 Days, Trump 2.0 Has Dramatically Reshaped the U.S. Immigration System, but Is Not Meeting Mass Deportation Aims
President Donald Trump's second term has produced the most sweeping U.S. immigration changes since 9/11, but some deportation goals remain out of reach.
Tapping Ancient Wartime and Security Laws, Trump Administration Dramatically Expands Immigration Powers
The Trump administration is deploying centuries-old wartime laws, some of which have never been used for routine immigration enforcement, to expand detentions and deportations.
