In the latest episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, the Center examines how a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) program – originally designed for homeless veterans – has evolved into a controversial funding source for illegal immigrants.This program has received wide public notice in the wake of the two recent hurricanes and claims that FEMA is putting the needs of illegal aliens ahead of Americans suffering from natural disasters.Andrew Arthur, the Center’s fellow in law and policy, walks the audience through the creation of an emergency food and shelter program in 1987 under President Reagan, its expansion and current role as a funding pipeline for NGOs and blue states to pay for the consequences of the Biden-Harris migrant crisis.Highlights:History of FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP): Originally meant to provide relief to homeless Vietnam veterans and others, this program has expanded beyond its intended purpose.Shift in Focus: After more than 111,000 adult migrants with children and unaccompanied minors crossed the border illegally May 2019, President Trump requested additional funds to move migrant children out of Border Patrol custody. He ultimately received the money, but only in exchange for a $30 million expansion of EFSP for transporting and housing illegal migrants. His administration unsuccessfully tried to end the program in subsequent budget requests.Biden-Harris Administration Funding Surge: Under President Biden, regular EFSP grew, but a new line item also appeared called EFSP-H, for “humanitarian”, i.e., to facilitate the settlement of illegal border-crossers. It later morphed into the FEMA Shelter and Services Program (SSP). Funding grew from the original $30 million to $650 million in 2024 – a 20-fold increase in just a few years. Much of this money is directed to NGOs and local governments in blue states.Undermining Incentives for Policy Changes: The government creates disaster through bad policy, then requests and receives funding to cope with the disaster, which is funneled to NGOs which support the policies responsible for the disaster in the first place. This removes much of the incentive to address the illegal immigration problem or to push the federal government for policy changes.Reprogramming FEMA Funds: The podcast highlights DHS’s ability to reprogram FEMA money from immigration support to disaster relief, raising questions about the prioritization of illegal immigration over natural disaster recovery.In his closing commentary, Mark Krikorian, the Center’s executive director and podcast host, highlights the arrival and expansion of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, emphasizing that its establishment is a direct consequence of the Biden-Harris administration’s policies.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestAndrew Arthur is a Fellow in Law and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies.RelatedMaking Sense of FEMAs Migrant Payment SchemesHow FEMA Distributes Moneys to Cope with the Surge of MigrantsMassive Spending Bill Includes $785 Million to Feed, House and Transport MigrantsIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

The latest episode of Parsing Immigration Policy examines a groundbreaking legal case that has set a new precedent for how immigration policies intersect with environmental law. Julie Axelrod, Director of Litigation at the Center for Immigration Studies, joins the conversation to discuss the federal court’s landmark decision that holds the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accountable for violating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).The Center bought a case against DHS on behalf of a rancher in the first case to successfully apply NEPA — often regarded as the "Magna Carta" of environmental laws — to immigration actions. NEPA, enacted in 1970, mandates that federal agencies evaluate the environmental effects of significant actions, including their impact on human environments. Yet, immigration policies have never undergone such analysis, despite their direct influence on population growth and environmental conditions.Key HighlightsWhat is NEPA? Axelrod explains the origins of NEPA and its importance in shaping government decision-making. She emphasizes that NEPA requires agencies to "look before they leap" by conducting thorough environmental reviews before implementing actions that could affect the environment. While NEPA has long applied to policies regarding energy, agriculture, etc., immigration authorities have never been held to the same standard — until now.Why It Matters: The ruling underscores the environmental impacts of mass immigration, which contribute to population growth, urban development, and strain on natural resources. Axelrod points out that, paradoxically, environmental groups — which typically champion NEPA — have not pursued this angle, leaving the Center to lead the charge.Future Implications: The court’s decision paves the way for future lawsuits that could hold the government accountable for immigration policies' environmental consequences.Remedies: The case will now move forward to determine appropriate remedies, with briefings scheduled for later this year. Axelrod highlights the need for future public engagement and hearings to assess how immigration impacts local communities and ecosystems.In his closing remarks, Mark Krikorian, the Center’s executive director and host of the podcast, addresses the recent announcement that the U.S. government will not be renewing the parole of Haitians and Venezuelans who were let in unlawfully by the hundreds of thousands by the Biden-Harris administration. While this may seem like a tough stance, Krikorian explains that the decision is largely symbolic with no real impact and purely designed to influence the election.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestJulie Axelrod is the Director of Litigation at the Center for Immigration Studies.RelatedCIS Prevails in Challenge to Biden-Harris Immigration Actions50th Anniversary of NEPA: Five Decades of Ignoring Environmental Impacts of ImmigrationIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

In the latest episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, the growing threat of transnational criminal organizations, how we got here, and potential solutions to address the issue. Guest host Jon Feere, the Center’s Director of Investigation and former Chief of Staff of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is joined by retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Denver Field Office Director John Fabbricatore who shares insights from his new book De-Iced: America in the Era of Open Borders and Unchecked Immigration.Fabbricatore focuses on the Venezuelan transnational criminal organization “Tren de Aragua,” which has quickly established itself in the U.S., particularly in cities like Chicago and New York, and even in smaller cities like Aurora, Colorado. He explains how the gang, involved in human trafficking and drug smuggling, has been expanding rapidly since first arriving in the country in 2023.Drawing on decades of experience in immigration enforcement, Fabbricatore shares personal stories from his career, including the challenges of deporting criminals and the complexities of international law enforcement. He stresses the need for a stronger commitment to enforcing immigration laws to ensure public safety and national security.Key Points:Tren de Aragua has already established a foothold in the U.S., with an estimated 5,000 members. He warns that unless there is swift action, the gang’s influence will only continue to grow.The challenges posed by sanctuary city policies hamper ICE’s ability to tackle gang violence and organized crime: "Sanctuary policies protect criminals, not citizens."Fabbricatore criticizes the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of immigration, particularly the abuse of parole programs, which he claims has overwhelmed the system. "Our system cannot handle the flood of illegal immigrants. The chaos being created now will eventually result in a push for amnesty."HostJon Feere is the Director of Investigations at the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestJohn Fabbricatore is a retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection Field Office Director.RelatedDe-Iced: America in the Era of Open Borders and Unchecked ImmigrationVenezuelan Gang Stirs Fears in Colorado’s Third Largest CitySanctuary MapIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

The latest episode of Parsing Immigration Policy examines two key issues for the upcoming election: how former President Donald Trump might approach interior enforcement of immigration laws if elected, and the ideology behind the Biden-Harris policies that have led to the current border crisis.In a pre-recorded segment from a recent seminar, Andrew Arthur, the Center’s fellow in law and policy, outlines what a return to normal immigration enforcement under a Republican presidency might look like.Key topics discussed include:Prioritizing Removals: How might Trump prioritize the removal of illegal aliens? Just for starters, the priority could be to find and remove the 99 aliens on the terrorist watch list who were released under Biden-Harris policies, followed by criminal aliens, and then the 1.29 million individuals already under orders of removal.ICE and Law Enforcement: ICE will be challenged due to staffing declines under Biden-Harris in ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division. But officers from the other main division of ICE, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), would help make up the shortfall.Sanctuary Policies and Criminal Aliens: How state and local police might handle criminal aliens under sanctuary policies.Detention and Deportation Logistics: The use of military bases and county jails for detention, commercial and charter flights for deportations, and potential obstacles from uncooperative countries are examined.E-Verify and Workplace Enforcement: Workplace enforcement, especially E-Verify, would likely play a critical role in Trump's approach.Our special commentary in this episode is the opening statement that Mark Krikorian, the Center’s executive director, provided before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. He testified that the Biden-Harris administration's immigration policy is not the result of incompetence or failure but a deliberate ideological stance. Describing the current border crisis as the largest in U.S. history, he highlights the over 10 million encounters with inadmissible aliens since January 2021. The administration’s approach bypasses legal limits set by Congress and is driven by a belief in unlimited immigration. This, according to Krikorian, represents a significant departure from U.S. law and poses a challenge to national sovereignty.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestAndrew Arthur is the Resident Fellow in Law and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies.RelatedGraph from Andrew Arthur's presentationMark Krikorian's TestimonyIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

The latest podcast episode from the Center for Immigration Studies highlights recent fieldwork conducted in Colombia and Panama. This episode explores the migration flow through the Darien Gap and examines new developments under Panama’s leadership designed to manage the number of migrants traveling through this dangerous area en route to the U.S. border. Despite these initiatives carrying positive implications for U.S., the U.S. has been slow to provide the diplomatic and financial support promised to the Panamanian government.National Security Fellow Todd Bensman joins the podcast after returning from a lengthy trip to the Darien region. He shares how Panama's newly elected president, who took office on July 1, is working to close the Darien Gap to the massive surge of migrants. This region, a roadless jungle connecting Colombia and Panama, has become a strategic choke point for migrants traveling north to the United States. Many of the migrants come from Venezuela, Haiti and countries with high potential security risks. Last year, over 550,000 migrants made their way through the gap, a significant increase from previous years. So great had the volume become that Panama went from screening 90 percent of those passing through the country for terrorism or espionage before 2021 to less than 3 percent in 2024.Bensman emphasizes that the Darien Gap matters to U.S. national security as it’s a transit point for migrants from over 170 countries, including those of terrorism concern. Panama’s new president recognized this and moved swiftly to set up roadblocks, erect barbed wire, target smuggling networks and more. However, U.S. support, particularly financial backing for deportation flights, has been slow to materialize, allowing the flow to continue.Bensman also delves into the armed militia group that controls critical smuggling routes on the Colombia side of the Darien Gap and speaks about his exclusive CIS interview with the chief of Panama’s National Border Service, Director General Jorge Gobea.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestTodd Bensman is the National Security Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies.RelatedProgress Report: Has Panama Closed the Notorious ‘Darien Gap’ Mass Migration Route to the U.S. Border as Promised?Exclusive Interview: Panama Border Security Chief Says Many U.S.-Bound Terror Suspects Caught in Darien Gap RegionCIS at the “Darien Gap”, heart of the U.S. Border Crisis?Intro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

The Center for Immigration Studies has released a new episode of its Parsing Immigration Policy podcast based on a recent Center report, “Sen. Kamala Harris’s Attempted Sabotage of Immigration Law Enforcement”, which examines then-Sen. Kamala Harris’s immigration track record during her four years in Congress. Based on this comprehensive review of legislation that Harris either wrote or co-sponsored, the episode offers key insights into what immigration policies might look like under a potential Harris administration.George Fishman, the Center’s senior legal fellow and podcast guest, says, “If Harris were elected on the same immigration platform she advocated in Congress, her policies would be far more extreme than those of the Biden administration or even the impeached Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. I have never seen anything so extreme.”Fishman discusses radical legislation authored or co-sponsored by Sen. Harris on the border, detention, deportations, asylum fraud, and the handcuffing of immigration enforcement officers – all examples of Harris’s views on immigration policy. In his closing remarks, Mark Krikorian, the Center’s executive director and the host of the podcast, highlights the recent presidential debate and missed opportunities by both candidates to clearly articulate their views on immigration.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestGeorge Fishman is Senior Legal Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies.RelatedSen. Kamala Harris’s Attempted Sabotage of Immigration Law EnforcementIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Many argue the United States needs to bring in more immigrants to work in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) due to a labor “shortage.” However, data recently obtained by the Center for Immigration Studies from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows little long-term increase in real (inflation-adjusted) compensation for STEM workers. This is powerful evidence that demand for STEM labor is not outstripping supply.Steven Camarota, the Center’s Director of Research, and Jason Richwine, the Center’s Resident Scholar, discuss these findings in their latest analysis, New Wage Data Show No STEM Worker ‘Shortage.’ The two experts join the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast to discuss how the recently received compensation data contradicts a new report released by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which again advocates for increased immigration based on an alleged labor shortage. The report overlooks the issue of stagnant wages and benefits, and the role they may play in hindering the recruitment of domestic STEM degree holders.The conversation also touches on the 29 percent of STEM workers who are foreign-born and how this may crowd out Americans from the field, as well as the national security implications of not cultivating a larger domestic tech workforce.In his closing remarks, Mark Krikorian, the Center’s executive director and host of the podcast, highlights an upcoming book, Against the Corporate Media – a collection of over forty essays on the decline of the news industry. Edited by Michael Walsh, the book includes a chapter on immigration authored by Krikorian.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestsSteven Camarota is the Director of Research at the Center for Immigration Studies.Jason Richwine is a Resident Scholar at the Center for Immigration StudiesRelatedInternational Talent Programs in the Changing Global EnvironmentNew Wage Data Show No STEM Worker ‘Shortage’Immigrants in U.S. Doctoral ProgramsIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

A new episode of Parsing Immigration Policy explores Vice President Harris’s role as the “Root Causes” Czar in addressing the U.S. migrant crisis. Discussing Harris’s efforts and their impact are host Mark Krikorian, the Center’s Executive Director, and Andrew Arthur, the center’s Resident Fellow in Law and Policy. Key Discussion Points:What are “Root Causes”?Root causes refers to the underlying factors driving migration, including crime, violence, food insecurity, poverty, corruption, and climate change. The Biden administration’s border strategy has focused exclusively on addressing these issues, also called “push factors”, in Central America, as opposed to “pull factors” in the U.S., to reduce the flow of migrants heading to the U.S. border.The Strategy:Vice President Harris has engaged in diplomatic efforts, including meetings with a few Central American leaders and private corporations, aimed at stabilizing the region and creating economic opportunities. However, her focus has been largely on just three countries – Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador – while migration from other regions has increased dramatically.What Was Done?Harris has visited Central America twice since taking on this role: once in 2021, and again in 2022 for the inauguration of Honduran President Xiomara Castro. Despite discussions around corruption and governance, corruption continues to worsen.Challenges and Criticisms:One major criticism of the administration’s approach is the lack of measurable success. While Harris has highlighted investments in Central America, questions remain about how much investment has occurred, how much of this investment would have occurred anyway, and whether it has effectively curbed migration.The Biden administration has not emphasized a policy of deterrence. Without addressing the pull factors – such as the ability to live and work in the U.S., whether illegal migrants are detained or prosecuted, and the existence of formidable border infrastructure – mass migration to the U.S. will continue.A Global Issue:The episode also touches on the broader issue of migration, noting that many countries are experiencing significant illegal flows of migrants. Helping nations develop to a point where migration will no longer occur is a very long-term, and perhaps impossible, solution.Contrasting Success:A notable contrast is seen in El Salvador, where a significant drop in crime has occurred due to internal policies, including the arrest and prosecution of gang members. Despite this success, the Biden-Harris administration has not promoted El Salvador’s approach, raising questions about the administration’s commitment to effective solutions.In his closing, Krikorian highlights reports that Harris has reversed her decision on building more border wall and now embraces it. This talking point resulted from her DNC speech, where she said she would sign the failed Senate border bill, which referred to funding for the wall but provided no new resources. Is she flip flopping?HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestAndrew Arthur is a Resident Fellow of Law and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies.RelatedHow Fruitful Have Kamala Harris Root Causes Efforts Been?The Biden-Harris ‘Root Causes’ Strategy, Decoded: Part OneThe Biden-Harris ‘Root Causes’ Strategy Decoded - Part TwoKamala Harris and Feckless ‘Root Causes’ Plan to Secure the BorderThe Spectator World: What did Kamala do to address the ‘root causes’ of migration?The NY Post: Don’t Believe for One Minute Kamala Harris’ Fantasy Pivot on Open BorderIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

The new episode of the Center for Immigration Studies’ podcast, Parsing Immigration Policy, focuses on the Center’s updated map of sanctuary jurisdictions, based on data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Joining host Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center, is Jessica Vaughan, the Center’s director of policy studies, who explains her update of the map.The update adds about 170 new sanctuary locations, mostly counties (including regional jails) as well as some cities. Some of these newly listed sanctuaries are in states that prohibit such policies, such as South Carolina, Indiana, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, and North Carolina.Virginia, North Dakota, Nebraska, New York, and Minnesota have seen the most significant increases in sanctuary policies.The Center's updated map is based on ICE's internal tracking, adding information from the document entitled "Detainer Acceptance Tracker – Limited and Non-Cooperative Institutions," obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request. The Center’s map is a collaboration between Vaughan and multimedia director Bryan Griffith, and has been used to track sanctuaries since 2015, using ICE information and open sources.Since then, well over 10,000 deportable criminal aliens who were arrested by local authorities for state and local crimes have been released back to the streets due to sanctuary policies, despite ICE seeking custody with a detainer, and a significant share have committed subsequent crimes. For example, in a documented eight-month period during 2014-2015, about 1,800 of 8,000 criminal aliens released by sanctuary jurisdictions were rearrested for committing 7,500 new crimes.“It is alarming to see the continued proliferation of sanctuary policies, especially in places like Virginia,” Vaughan notes, “where ICE has had to use its scarce resources to re-arrest violent gang members and rapists in our communities who were set free by local jails, when they should have been transferred directly to ICE custody for a plane ride home.”Vaughan continued: “Federal and state lawmakers should adopt measures to better ensure that local law enforcement agencies cooperate with ICE, and to penalize those agencies that choose not to cooperate.”In his closing commentary, Krikorian discusses the Democratic Party’s 2024 immigration platform introduced this week at the party’s convention. The platform embraces the U.S. Citizenship Act, a radical piece of legislation introduced in January 2021, that would have granted amnesty to all illegal immigrants in the U.S. as of January 2021 and even allowed the return of many previously deported illegal immigrants. This position contrasts sharply with the Republican position on immigration enforcement, setting the stage for an unambiguous policy debate.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestJessica Vaughan is the Director of Policy Studies at the Center for Immigration Studies.RelatedSanctuary MapJustice Department Still Funding SanctuariesAre Immigrants Less Willing to Report Crime?Background and Likely Effects of the Biden-Menendez Amnesty BillThe 2024 Democratic Party PlatformIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

The Biden-Harris administration expects to resettle more than 100,000 refugees into the U.S. by the end of Fiscal Year 2024 — the highest number in three decades. In this week’s episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, the Center’s Executive Director Mark Krikorian and the Center’s Senior Researcher and refugee expert Nayla Rush discuss how the administration has transformed the resettlement program to reach these high admission numbers. The episode highlights concern about whether the remade program truly helps the most vulnerable, or if the distinction between humanitarian resettlement and ordinary immigration has been blurred.Key topics discussed in this episode include:Executive Branch Role: While the resettlement program is established in law, the president sets the cap on refugee admissions each year, which is now viewed more as a target than a limit.Expansion of Who Is Treated as a “Refugee”: The Biden-Harris administration has effectively redefined the term “refugee,” extending benefits and privileges to individuals who do not meet the traditional legal definition.An Expanded Domestic Resettlement Network: Ten religious or community-based organizations which assist with resettling refugees inside the U.S. maintain nationwide networks of local affiliates to provide refugees with services, including assistance in signing up for taxpayer-funded benefits. The local affiliate number is up from 150 to 350.Modernization of the Refugee Program: Efforts to modernize the program have significantly reduced processing times from years to just a few months, allowing for faster refugee arrivals. In FY 2023, despite a cap of 125,000, only half that number were resettled. However, with ongoing modernization and the introduction of “private” sponsorship, the cap is expected to be met or even raised in FY 2025.Private Sponsorship through the “Welcome Corps”: The administration has introduced the Welcome Corps initiative, allowing private groups and individuals to select their own refugees and future American citizens, bypassing the traditional role of the UN. The “Welcome Corps” was further expanded to include the “Welcome Corps on Campus”, bringing “refugees” straight to U.S. campuses; and the Welcome Corps at Work, bringing them straight to U.S. jobs. There is also a Latin American program and an Afghan targeted program.Concerns and Controversies:Chain Refugee Resettlement: Former refugees sponsoring new refugees, potentially creating issues with accountability and oversight.Private Sponsorship Challenges: Despite being labeled as “private,” the Welcome Corps is heavily subsidized by federal taxpayer funding.Future Expansion under a Potential Harris Administration: Pressure is already being exerted to create a “Welcome Corps” program for Gaza refugees.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestNayla Rush is a Senior Researcher at the Center for Immigration Studies.RelatedRemaking the U.S. Refugee Resettlement ProgramLatest Biden/Harris ‘Lawful Pathways’ Scheme: Declare Latin American Migrants to be ‘Refugees’Parolees Paroling More ParoleesIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".