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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In Historic Shift, New Migration Flows from Mexico Fall Below Those from China and India
China and India surpassed Mexico as leading recent sources of U.S. immigrants in 2013, signaling lasting shifts in flows and demographics.
Recent Court Decisions Put a Sharp Spotlight on U.S. H-2B Temporary Worker Visa Program
A legal battle over H-2B visa regulations has exposed a dispute about agency authority and the program's failure to protect workers.
All Eyes on U.S. Federal Courts as Deferred Action Programs Halted
A court injunction halted DAPA and expanded DACA, leaving deportation relief for up to 5.2 million unauthorized immigrants uncertain.
As Implementation Nears, U.S. Deferred Action Programs Encounter Legal, Political Tests
With up to 5.2 million unauthorized immigrants potentially eligible, 26 states and Congress are seeking to block DACA and DAPA before they take effect.
Immigration Not Decisive in the Midterms, But Results Critical to the Congressional Debate
Republican gains in 2014 U.S. midterm elections did nor resolve questions around immigration.
Ebola Outbreak Rekindles Debate on Restricting Admissions to the United States on Health Grounds
The Ebola crisis has revived scrutiny of U.S. health-based immigration controls in a mass-travel era.
Unaccompanied Minors Crisis Has Receded from Headlines But Major Issues Remain
While 2014’s U.S. child migrant surge faded fast, court backlogs, due-process battles, and immigration politics continue to play out.
The Stalemate over Unaccompanied Minors Holds Far-Reaching Implications for Broader U.S. Immigration Debates
Congress's fight over funding for unaccompanied Central American minors could reshape U.S. immigration politics.
Dramatic Surge in the Arrival of Unaccompanied Children Has Deep Roots and No Simple Solutions
A surge of Central American unaccompanied children is straining U.S. systems.
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.
