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. In 2025, he received the Outstanding American by Choice recognition from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ur Jaddou; he is also a 1995 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and 1994 recipient of the New York State Governor's Award for Outstanding Asian Americans.
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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Controversial EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Faces Possibility of Overhaul
The rapid expansion, fraud scandals, and Regional Center controversy of the EB-5 visa program have made it a bipartisan target for overhaul.
U.S. v. Texas Immigration Case May Be Resolved on Narrow Procedural Grounds; Long-Term Future Shifts to Next Administration
In U.S. v. Texas, a divided Supreme Court is weighing standing and “lawful presence” in ways that may leave DAPA’s fate largely to the next administration.
Syrian Refugees Receive Green Light from U.S. Courts, Mixed Reception from States and Congress
U.S. courts, Congress, and presidential candidates clashed over Syrian refugee resettlement, despite rigorous U.S. security screening and limited terrorism cases.
Increased Central American Migration to the United States May Prove an Enduring Phenomenon
Enduring unauthorized U.S. immigration of children and families from the Northern Triangle has been propelled by factors including violence and drought.
With Little Debate, Congress Enacts Broad Range of Immigration Changes in Spending Bill
Congress used a must‑pass 2016 spending bill to quietly reshape visas, enforcement, and Central America aid, hinting at a new path for U.S. immigration reform.
Recent Court Rulings Block Deferred Action Programs and Raise Questions for Accessing Birthright Citizenship
Court fights over deferred action and birth certificates highlight how legal battles are reshaping executive power and practical access to U.S. citizenship.
Fifty Years On, the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act Continues to Reshape the United States
Fifty years after passage, the 1965 immigration law still anchors U.S. policy, driving more diverse inflows, uneven integration, and recurring political battles.
Fierce Opposition, Court Rulings Place Future of Family Immigration Detention in Doubt
Court rulings and advocacy have raised new questions about the future of U.S. family immigration detention.
Sanctuary Cities Come Under Scrutiny, As Does Federal-Local Immigration Relationship
The killing of Kathryn Steinle exposed deep fractures in federal-local immigration enforcement and thrust sanctuary policies into the 2016 presidential campaign.
Quick Resolution of Challenge over Obama Administration Deportation Relief Programs Is Ever Less Likely
A federal appeals court ruling left President Barack Obama’s DAPA and expanded DACA in legal limbo while other executive actions moved ahead.
