Undercurrents David Leonhardt: Joe Biden’s immigration policy hit a historic landmark
Dec 18, 2024
David Leonhardt, a New York Times journalist and author of "Ours Was The Shining Future," dives into the historic immigration surge under Joe Biden's administration. He discusses compelling data supporting this unprecedented trend and explores the push and pull factors, from climate change to global instability. Leonhardt also highlights personal stories from Haitian migrants while navigating the complex political perspectives on immigration, reflecting on the American dream and its lasting appeal amid evolving policies.
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Historic Immigration Surge Under Biden
- The Biden administration oversaw the fastest net immigration surge in U.S. history, exceeding 8 million arrivals since 2021.
- This surge surpasses historic peaks like the Ellis Island era, with the foreign born share of the population now at record levels.
Biden's Policy Impact and Technology
- Biden's loosening immigration policies directly contributed to the surge, evidenced by immigration plummeting after policy tightening in 2023 and 2024.
- Technology and globalization made immigration easier now compared to historic waves, enhancing reach and communication for migrants.
Push vs Pull Factors in Immigration
- Push factors like post-COVID economic recovery and crises in Venezuela, Haiti, and Ukraine contributed to migration but aren’t sole causes.
- Global misery metrics are better now than decades ago, so immigration surge owes more to pull factors and infrastructural ease than worsening conditions.
