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Parsing Immigration Policy

Parsing Immigration Policy

De: Center for Immigration Studies
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A weekly discussion of immigration policy matters, both immediate and long-term, with researchers from the Center for Immigration Studies and guests.The Center for Immigration Studies is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit, research organization. Since our founding in 1985 by Otis Graham Jr., we have pursued a single mission – providing immigration policymakers, the academic community, news media, and concerned citizens with reliable information about the social, economic, environmental, security, and fiscal consequences of legal and illegal immigration into the United States.

Listen to all episodes of Parsing Immigration Policy at Ricochet.com.Center for Immigration Studies Ciencia Política Política y Gobierno
Episodios
  • A Civil Exchange on a Polarizing Issue

    A Civil Exchange on a Polarizing Issue
    Jul 17 2025
    In the latest episode of the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast, host and the Center’s executive director Mark Krikorian sits down with Gaby Pacheco, an Ecuador-born “Dreamer” and President and CEO of TheDream.US.

    Krikorian, a long-time critic of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and Pacheco, now an American citizen, discuss the history and politics of the Dream Act and DACA.

    Opportunity Lost: Despite holding 60 Senate seats during the first year of the Obama administration, Democrats chose not to move a legislative amnesty for Dreamers – illegal aliens who entered the United States at a young age.

    What is DACA?: Having failed to pass an amnesty for Dreamers, President Obama bypassed Congress in 2012 and through executive action created DACA, which provides some of the benefits of the Dream Act, including protection from deportation and employment authorization, to certain illegal aliens who entered the U.S. before age 16. Its legality has been the subject of litigation.

    Origins of the Idea for DACA: Pacheco recounts how, having failed to pass the Dream Act through Congress, the administrative approach of DACA was inspired by a 2003 private bill by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which provides “temporary” protection from deportation and work authorization eligibility for nationals in the U.S. of countries that have experienced natural disaster or civil strife.

    Trump’s 2018 offer: The Trump administration proposed a legislative package that would have given proper legal status to DACA recipients and other DACA-eligible illegal immigrants, covering perhaps as many as 2 million people, in exchange for key reforms in the legal immigration system. It failed in the House.

    Looking ahead: Will Congress address DACA?

    Host

    Mark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.

    Guest

    Gaby Pacheco is the President and CEO of TheDream.US.RelatedTheDream.US

    Intro Montage

    Voices 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.
    • Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.
    • Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".
    Más Menos
    38 m
  • Visa Integrity: The Next Frontier in Immigration Enforcement

    Visa Integrity: The Next Frontier in Immigration Enforcement
    Jul 10 2025
    In this week's episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, Jessica Vaughan, the Center's Director of Policy Studies, expands on her recent testimony before the U.S. House immigration subcommittee on “Restoring Integrity and Security to the Visa Process”.

    Under the Biden administration, the number of visa applications and issuances increased significantly, which created difficulties for vetting and greater opportunity for visa fraud. Along with host and Center Executive Director Mark Krikorian, Vaughan explores various actions that can be taken by Congress or the Trump administration to address these risks.

    Vaughan identifies several possible changes that could be made administratively.
    • Change the culture of customer service at USCIS and State Department that encourages adjudicators to “get to yes”
    • Require mandatory interviews of all visa applicants
    • Narrow the default authorized duration of stay for short-term tourist and business visas to 30 days instead of an automatic six months
    Vaughan also discusses visa categories that she believes should be reviewed by Congress to decide if they need to be managed more closely, cut back, or eliminated altogether, including:
    • Diversity Lottery
    • U and T visas
    • Special Immigrant Juvenile visas
    • Optional Practical Training
    • J visas
    In his closing commentary, Mark Krikorian looks inside the “Big Beautiful Bill” and what its enactment means for immigration policy.

    Host

    Mark Krikorian in the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.

    Guest

    Jessica Vaughan is a Director of Policy Studies at the Center for Immigration Studies.

    Related

    Jessica Vaughan’s oral and written statements

    Video of the full hearing, plus all written witness statements

    Overview of Immigration Provisions in H.R.1, the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’

    Intro Montage

    Voices 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.
    • Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.
    • Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".
    Más Menos
    36 m
  • Marriage Fraud: The Hidden Gateway to U.S. Entry

    Marriage Fraud: The Hidden Gateway to U.S. Entry
    Jul 3 2025
    This week’s episode of the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast explores a topic rarely covered in the media: marriage fraud. Guest host Marguerite Telford, the Center’s Director of Communications, sits down with Richard Lee, a former USCIS Immigration Officer and author, to discuss how sham marriages are orchestrated to gain a green card—and eventually citizenship—often then bringing extended family members through chain migration. They also examine how existing U.S. laws and loopholes make it easier for bad actors to exploit the system, in part, by sharing real-life stories.Key topics:What is marriage fraud? A marriage entered with the primary intention of securing immigration benefits—green cards, citizenship, and eventual chain migration.Types of marriage fraudSingle scheme marriage (friendship marriages)Single scheme one sided marriage (U.S. citizen used and defrauded)Arranged marriage (a paid broker is used and includes fraud rings)Cases of marriage fraudThe Numbers: Rich Lee draws on his USCIS experience in Atlanta, where he uncovered approximately 3,000 marriage-fraud cases over three years, primarily involving immigrant communities common to the region – the two most common foreign nationals involved were from Nigeria and Ghana.Where do brokers find the U.S. citizens to exploit?Lee discusses how homeless people are preyed upon.VAWA fraudAliens exploit the Violence Against Women Act, a federal law that provides protection for victims of domestic violence. The law provides an easy pathway to a green card due to a huge bias towards the alien, who can claim abuse and then self-petition for a green card, all without any in-person interview. This claim of abuse often takes place without the alleged abuser’s knowledge. No evidence or information can be taken from the alleged abuser or his family.Telford questions whether it would be a good idea to amend the law so abuse can be contested – maybe adding an adversarial proceeding before an immigration judge.Lee believes that VAWA cases should be taken away from the Vermont Service Center.Lee also believes that in-person interviews should be required to safeguard against fraudulent misuse.USCIS cultureLee explains that he experienced a shift in the agency’s culture during his time as an immigration officer. USCIS is now focused almost exclusively on serving immigrants with little support provided to U.S. citizens.Victims are encouraged to report fraud on the ICE tipline:1-866-DHS-2-ICE or ICE.gov/tiplineHostMarguerite Telford is the Director of Communications at the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestRichard Lee is a former USCIS Immigration Officer and author.RelatedAfter the Border: 42 Eye-Opening, Shocking, Crazy, Happy & Fun Stories from a Retired U.S. Immigration OfficerIntro 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.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".
    Más Menos
    34 m
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