U.S. Immigration Policy Program
The U.S. Immigration Policy Program provides thought leadership on ways to improve the U.S. immigration system so that it works most effectively in the national interest. To that end, its work focuses on immigration pathways to the United States and immigration enforcement policies and their impacts. It examines the complex demographic, economic, social, political, foreign policy, and other forces that shape U.S. immigration.
Program staff produce data and analyses of immigration trends and the characteristics of U.S. immigrant populations, including unauthorized immigrants. And they conduct original research on the impacts of policy change and the experiences of immigrant populations in diverse parts of the country. This work is frequently informed by private convenings of policymakers and key stakeholders. For more, click here.
Featured
The Immigration Debate America Needs—and Is Not Having
Immigration is central to America’s economic future, yet debate fixates on border crises and policy failures instead of how a modern legal…
Trump Restrictions on Legal Immigration Could Sharply Reduce U.S. Population Growth
President Donald Trump's second-term curbs on legal immigration, spanning visas, refugees, and family reunification, could meaningfully slow U.S…
More Featured Work
Key Statistics
Learn more about immigrants and immigration to the United States
14.8%
The immigrant share of the total U.S. population
Learn how this share has evolved (opens in a new tab)50.2 million
The number of immigrants in the United States
Explore Data Profiles by State (opens in a new tab)18.4%
The share of workers in the U.S. civilian labor force who are immigrants
Get the data at U.S. and state levels (opens in a new tab)- General Inquiries
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Michelle Mittelstadt
202 266 1910 [email protected]
Showing 811–819 of 819 results
Legislation Introduced to Legalize Undocumented Workers
U.S. House Democrats proposed legalizing undocumented workers in October 2002.
Court Challenges Secrecy in Post-Sept. 11 Deportation Proceedings
A U.S. court ruled secret deportation hearings were unconstitutional in 2002; separately, new grants of lawful permanent residence hit 1 million in FY 2001.
Head of INS Submits Resignation
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Commissioner James Ziglar announced he would resign in August 2002.
Homeland Security Dept. Proposal Moves Forward
The U.S. House passed a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bill in July 2002 moving only the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) enforcement arm to the new agency; the Senate version would transfer the entire INS and elevate it to its own directorate.
Bush Proposal Lumps INS into Homeland Security Dept.
President George W. Bush proposed merging the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) into a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in June 2002.
Reconcilable Differences? An Evaluation of Current INS Restructuring Proposals
Fixing the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) requires more than reorganization—it demands a single, independent agency with clear authority and unified policy.
Gov't Mulls Revamping INS, Shortening Visas
In spring 2002, the U.S. Congress debated replacing the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), proposed shortening tourist visas to 30 days, and President George W. Bush signed a new border security law.
A Grand Bargain: Balancing the National Security, Economic, and Immigration Interests of the U.S. and Mexico
This influential paper outlines a “grand bargain” that the United States and Mexico could agree to create a legalization program, new border security, and temporary worker program.
Background Paper on Immigration and National Security
Post-9/11 review of U.S. visa and border systems urges better intelligence sharing and EU-style cooperation to boost security while protecting civil liberties.