E.g., 08/09/2022
E.g., 08/09/2022
Immigration Policy & Law

Immigration Policy & Law

Civil Liberties
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
DREAM Act/Deferred Action
Employment-Based Immigration
Family Reunification
Integration Policy
International Students
Legalization/Regularization
Selection Systems
Visa Policy
_ImmigrationPolicy+Law

Immigration legislative and administrative policies, legal statutes and court decisions, and regulations collectively shape nations' immigration systems—from visa allotments and immigrant-selection mechanisms to immigrant integration programs, border controls, and more. As international migration has increased in size and spread and as a number of nations are more flexibly adjusting their immigration systems, the research offered here examines the many permutations of immigration policy and law, often with a comparative lens.

Recent Activity

MPI Event Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian
Multimedia
January 30, 2019
Creative Policy Responses in Latin America to the Venezuelan Migration Crisis
A man holds a sign protesting the travel ban at an airport
Articles
January 31, 2019
The Travel Ban at Two: Rocky Implementation Settles into Deeper Impacts
By Muzaffar Chishti and Jessica Bolter
Explainer WhoIsAnImmigrant Rotator
Explainers
February 2019
Explainer: Who Is An Immigrant?
By  Jessica Bolter
Coverthumb VenezuelansLegalPathwaysBrief Spanish
Policy Briefs
January 2019
Creatividad dentro de la crisis: opciones legales para migrantes venezolanos en América Latina
By  Andrew Selee, Jessica Bolter, Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian and Miryam Hazán
Coverthumb VenezuelansLegalPathwaysBrief English
Policy Briefs
January 2019
Creativity amid Crisis: Legal Pathways for Venezuelan Migrants in Latin America
By  Andrew Selee, Jessica Bolter, Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian and Miryam Hazán
Integration Futures Final Report
Reports
January 2019
Breaking New Ground: Ten Ideas to Revamp Integration Policy in Europe
By  Meghan Benton and Aliyyah Ahad
129_Chicago_ERO_Repat_Plane_102115_JD
Multimedia
January 16, 2019
Promising Strategies for Reintegration of Migrants Returning to Mexico and Central America
Coverthumb MPIE CommunicatingIntegration_Page_01
Reports
January 2019
Communicating Strategically about Immigrant Integration: Policymaker Perspectives
By  Aliyyah Ahad and Natalia Banulescu-Bogdan

Pages

MPIEurope FreeMovement Intg
Reports
March 2013
The Integration Needs of Mobile EU Citizens: Impediments and Opportunities
By  Elizabeth Collett
Cover_Arango
Reports
March 2013
Exceptional in Europe? Spain's Experience with Immigration and Integration
By  Joaquín Arango
Cover Germanycasestudy
Reports
March 2013
Identity and (Muslim) Integration in Germany
By  Naika Foroutan
cover CIR 1986Timeline
Fact Sheets
March 2013
Key Immigration Laws and Policy Developments Since 1986
Cover Children Yoshikawa
Reports
March 2013
Unauthorized Immigrant Parents and Their Children's Development
By  Hirokazu Yoshikawa and Jenya Kholoptseva
cover CIR 1790Timeline
Fact Sheets
March 2013
Major U.S. Immigration Laws, 1790 - Present
Cover Kremer netherlands
Reports
March 2013
The Netherlands: From National Identity to Plural Identifications
By  Monique Kremer
Cover_CIR BackoftheLine
Policy Briefs
March 2013
Going to the Back of the Line: A Primer on Lines, Visa Categories, and Wait Times
By  Claire Bergeron

Pages

YoungImmigrantLineUp1 WBEZPeterHolderness Flickr
Feature
August 13, 2015
Origin and Community: Asian and Latin American Unauthorized Youth and U.S. Deportation Relief

This article explores differences in application and renewal rates for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program among unauthorized immigrants from Latin America and Asia. Based on interviews with immigrant advocates and service providers, it appears participation in the deportation relief program may be different among origin groups based on varying perceptions of lack of trust in government and shame over legal status, as well as political barriers.

AProtestoratEuromaidan IvanBandura Flickr
Feature
July 15, 2015
The EuroMaidan Protests, Corruption, and War in Ukraine: Migration Trends and Ambitions
Public frustration with decades of poor governance and pervasive corruption in Ukraine culminated in the EuroMaidan revolution in November 2013. Since then, violent conflict and Russia's annexation of Crimea have displaced an estimated 2 million people, both internally and internationally. This feature article explores migration ambitions among Ukrainians in the lead-up and aftermath of EuroMaidan, and the impact of war and economic crisis on traditional migration patterns.
Youngimmigrantslineupdeportation WBEZ flickr
Policy Beat
June 25, 2015
Quick Resolution of Challenge over Obama Administration Deportation Relief Programs Is Ever Less Likely
As legal challenges continue to impede President Obama's deferred action programs to protect millions of unauthorized immigrants from deportation, it is becoming increasingly clear that the window of opportunity for implementation before the 2016 election is growing ever narrower. Even as advocates continue mobilizing immigrants to apply, attention is shifting to other new policies announced by the president last November.
Nepalearthquake2015 ILO Shukuko Koyama
Feature
June 18, 2015
Redefining Nepal: Internal Migration in a Post-Conflict, Post-Disaster Society
Even as Nepal will lean more heavily on its international diaspora to help recover from devastating earthquakes that killed thousands and decimated parts of the country, the disasters have had effects on internal migration. Class and gender dynamics have long driven significant internal flows. This feature article explores migration trends in Nepal, including movement between ecological zones, growing urbanization, and the feminization of an increasingly mobile workforce.
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Feature
June 10, 2015
Integration Key to Combating Radicalization: A Q&A with Solveig Horne, Norwegian Minister of Children, Equality, and Social Inclusion
With rising inflows of humanitarian and economic migrants, Norway faces a series of integration challenges. In conversation with the Migration Information Source, Solveig Horne, Norway's Minister of Children, Equality, and Social Inclusion discusses her work on integration policy, from the importance of language training and a feeling of belonging, to the protection of immigrant women and resettlement of asylum seekers.

Pages

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multimedia Talent,Comp,Mig
Video
October 28, 2009

Talent, Competitiveness, and Migration

This book release and discussion focused on the accumulation of talent and its effects on economic growth and migration trends.
MI_EVerify_09
Video
July 20, 2009

E-Verify: An Assessment of its Strengths and Weaknesses

This discussion focuses on E-Verify, the federal government's electronic employment verification system, and the release of an MPI report that assesses the program's strengths and weaknesses.
IMG_0442
Video
June 24, 2009

6th Annual Immigration Law & Policy Conference

This conference offers law and policy analysis and discussion on cutting-edge immigration issues.

multimedia EPUP2009
Video, Audio
May 20, 2009

2009 E Pluribus Unum Awards

Award winners for the inaugural year of the E Pluribus Unum Prizes program were honored at a reception at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC in 2009.
2009.5.15 MPI Symposium on Citizenship screen shot
Video
May 15, 2009

MPI Symposium on Citizenship

MPI's symposium on citizenship examined immigrant civic and political participation, the notion of local voting rights for noncitizens, the concept and practice of dual citizenship, and the role of citizenship in immigrant integration.

Pages

Recent Activity

Video, Audio
January 30, 2019

Creative Policy Responses in Latin America to the Venezuelan Migration Crisis

With more than 3 million Venezuelans having fled their country in crisis, this event features the release of an MPI-OAS report that examines the creative responses that host countries in Latin America are providing. These include the opening of legal pathways to residence, access to formal labor markets, and greater use of forms of ID for recognition.

Articles
January 31, 2019

The Travel Ban at Two: Rocky Implementation Settles into Deeper Impacts

Two years after the Trump administration’s much-litigated travel ban was created, the policy has demonstrated a significant impact on the admission of foreigners from the banned countries, while also reshaping U.S. security vetting procedures and the refugee resettlement process in enduring ways, as this article explores on the second-year anniversary.

Explainers
February 2019

Explainer: Who Is An Immigrant?

Who is an immigrant? Does that status change if, for example, a foreigner marries a native-born resident or serves in his or her adopted country's military? This explainer answers basic questions about international migrants—who they are, their top destinations, where they come from, how they are counted, and more.

Policy Briefs
January 2019

Creatividad dentro de la crisis: opciones legales para migrantes venezolanos en América Latina

Enfrentados con la llegada de más de 3 millones de venezolanos huyendo de una economía colapsada y conflictos políticos, los países latinoamericanos han respondido con creatividad y pragmatismo. Pero, a medida que la crisis venezolana y la migración que ha impulsado se extienden, es necesario examinar más allá de la facilitación de la entrada legal y la otorgación del estatus temporal para planificar a largo plazo.

Policy Briefs
January 2019

Creativity amid Crisis: Legal Pathways for Venezuelan Migrants in Latin America

Faced with the arrival of more than 3 million Venezuelans fleeing economic collapse and political upheaval, Latin American countries have responded with creativity and pragmatism. But as the migration spurred by the crisis stretches on, there is a need to look beyond facilitating legal entry and granting temporary status to plan for the long term. This brief explores the policy response thus far and challenges ahead.

Reports
January 2019

Breaking New Ground: Ten Ideas to Revamp Integration Policy in Europe

To address the intersecting challenges facing European societies—from population aging and labor-market change, to immigration and political upheaval—governments need to hone new strategies for helping both newcomers and long-term residents succeed amid diversity. This report explores some of the most promising approaches, drawing on input from policymakers, the private sector, civil society, and others.

Video, Audio, Webinars
January 16, 2019

Promising Strategies for Reintegration of Migrants Returning to Mexico and Central America

This MPI webinar focuses on reception and reintegration services for returning migrants, along with the heightened pressure policymakers in Mexico and Central America are facing to design systems and programs that support both returnees and the communities in which they settle. Authors of a year-long study of reception and reintegration services in Mexico and the Northern Triangle discuss the findings of their fieldwork.

Reports
January 2019

Communicating Strategically about Immigrant Integration: Policymaker Perspectives

When it comes to communicating with constituents on the highly emotive issue of immigrant integration, European policymakers are facing unprecedented challenges. This report explores how the rapidly changing media landscape and heightened attention to migration affect how governments craft communications on these issues, and how these messages resonate (or backfire) with the public. Drawing on past PR successes and failures, it offers guidance on effective strategies.

Pages