Épisodes

  • The Future of Borders and Nationhood

    The Future of Borders and Nationhood
    Oct 30 2025
    This week on Parsing Immigration Policy, Simon Hankinson, Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, discusses his new book, The Ten Woke Commandments You Must Not Obey. Two of the book’s chapters focus on immigration: “You Shall Have No Borders” and “You Shall Have No Nation.”

    In the episode, Hankinson explains why the idea of the nation-state is fundamental to civilization and how the erosion of borders threatens both prosperity and safety. He argues that:
    • The open border movement is both ideological and political – a tool to expand government dependency and reshape the electorate.
    • A democracy cannot survive without defined borders; “If you don’t have a country to defend, nothing else matters.”
    • Birthright citizenship and “birth tourism” weaken the meaning of national allegiance and civic responsibility.
    Drawing on his years as a U.S. diplomat in India, Ghana, Fiji, Togo, and Slovakia, Hankinson shares how his first-hand experience with visa processing opened his eyes to migration patterns and visa fraud, shaping his perspective on U.S. immigration policy.

    He also reflects on how free speech, civic duty, and national loyalty intersect in a society increasingly pressured to conform to ideological orthodoxies. (Upcoming Event: Hankinson and Krikorian will join a November 19 Heritage Foundation panel on the H-1B visa program, exploring how it has shifted from filling national needs to displacing American workers, and how it can be reformed.)

    In his closing commentary, Krikorian notes two developments that mark the end of the Biden Border Crisis. First, of course, is the dramatic drop in apprehension numbers. Despite a small uptick in Southwest border arrests in September, the newly released Fiscal Year 2025 total was the lowest in generations. Equally important, though, is the fact that the (much smaller) migrant flow has reverted to traditional patterns – mainly Mexicans, with a few Central Americans – marking an end to the globalized flow from nearly every country on earth in response to Biden administration policies.

    Host

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

    Guest

    Simon Hankinson is a Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

    Related

    Simon Hankinson Bio and Publications

    The Ten Woke Commandments You Must Not Obey

    Despite Uptick in September, FY25 Border Arrests Were the Lowest in Generations

    Migrant Flow Returns to Traditional Demographic Patterns under Trump II

    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".
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    38 min
  • A Deep Dive into Chicago’s Immigration Enforcement Crisis

    A Deep Dive into Chicago’s Immigration Enforcement Crisis
    Oct 23 2025
    This week on Parsing Immigration Policy, Jessica Vaughan, the Center’s Director of Policy, unpacks the ongoing tension in Chicago, as federal and local law enforcement agencies continue to clash over illegal immigration and crime.

    The Trump administration launched Operation “Midway Blitz” in September, sending ICE, Border Patrol, and other federal agents into the Chicago area in an effort to enforce immigration laws where state and local jurisdictions refuse to cooperate. Just back from Illinois, where she met with officers from across the state, Vaughan explains that they recognize the safety implications of unlimited illegal immigration and want to help federal authorities, but sanctuary policies from the city, county, and state tie their hands.

    Vaughan highlights growing crime concerns in Chicago — a clear example, she says, of the public safety crisis created by the Biden administration’s open-border policies. For years, American and transnational gangs alike have taken advantage of the lack of interior enforcement, which is how Cook County became home to nearly 370,000 illegal immigrants, including criminals and violent gangs.

    Today, federal pressure is finally squeezing criminal networks, but it’s making them more violent. With arrests in the Chicago area doubling under the Trump administration and doubling again during Operation Midway Blitz, ICE has taken roughly 3,000 illegal immigrants off the streets, many with criminal records. In response, some transnational gangs are lashing out and turning violent against federal officers threatening their operations.

    This week’s episode is a deep dive into Chicago, but it’s not an isolated example — it’s a case study in what happens when politics blocks public safety. The same challenges are unfolding in other sanctuary cities across the country, like Los Angeles and Portland, Ore.

    Host

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

    Guest

    Jessica Vaughan the Director of Policy Studies for the Center for Immigration Studies.

    Related

    Enabled by a Federal Judge, Chicago-Area Mayors Seek to Shut Down Immigration Law Enforcement

    Understanding Pritzker’s Dangerous Immigration Game

    Immigration Newsmaker Video: A Conversation with U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks

    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".
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    35 min
  • The Gold Card and $100K H-1B Fee: What Do They Mean?

    The Gold Card and $100K H-1B Fee: What Do They Mean?
    Oct 16 2025
    This week's Parsing Immigration Policy podcast features expert analysis of two major immigration actions recently announced by President Trump: a new $100,000 entry fee for H-1B visa-holders and the creation of a “Gold Card”.

    The discussion, recorded live at a recent CIS event, features George Fishman, senior legal fellow, and Elizabeth Jacobs, director of regulatory affairs and policy.

    The H-1B Visa Proclamation imposes a one-time $100,000 entry fee on foreign workers applying for H-1B visas – ostensibly temporary visas originally intended for “the best and the brightest”. Jacobs examines the new policy’s goal of closing loopholes that allow employers to displace American workers and depress wages and outlines additional suggestions for closing other loopholes.

    The Gold Card Program, established by executive order, offers lawful permanent residence to foreign nationals who contribute $1 million – or $2 million through an employer – to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Fishman explains that while the program was designed to expedite legal entry for investors, many approved recipients will still face long waits for green cards due to caps and per-country limits, especially for nationals of India and the People's Republic of China. The program, he notes, also raises several legal questions.

    Host

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

    Guest

    George Fishman is Senior Legal Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies.

    Elizabeth Jacobs is the Director of Regulatory Affairs at the Center for Immigration Studies

    Related

    How The Trump Administration Can Strengthen Its New H-1B Reforms

    DHS Proposes Reform to H-1B Selection Process

    President Trump Establishes Gold Immigration Card, Announces $100,000 H-1B Entry Fee

    President Trump’s Gold Card

    President Trump’s Gold Card Needs to Pass Through Congress’s Golden Gate . . . or Does It?

    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".
    Voir plus Voir moins
    22 min
  • Military Lawyers as Temporary Immigration Judges?

    Military Lawyers as Temporary Immigration Judges?
    Oct 9 2025
    This week’s Parsing Immigration Policy podcast examines the Trump administration’s initiative to temporarily detail military lawyers -- Judge Advocates General (JAGs) -- to serve as temporary immigration judges, with the first group beginning training this week.

    Host Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, is joined by Andrew Arthur, the Center’s fellow in law and policy and a former immigration judge, to discuss the legal, practical, and political implications of the move.

    Key points include:
    • The U.S. immigration court system currently has about 650 permanent judges; the addition of 100 JAGs as temporary judges could significantly expand capacity, with the administration aiming to add hundreds more.
    • The Department of Justice has had mechanisms since 2014 to appoint temporary immigration judges.
    • Most JAGs lack immigration law experience, but Arthur notes that immigration courts often focus on determinations of removability and eligibility for relief -- areas where experienced litigators can adapt quickly.
    • New judges receive a week of formal training and two weeks of supervised hearings, similar to what Arthur himself received.
    • The episode also addresses the multiple due process safeguards, the backlog impact, and whether the move raises concerns under the Posse Comitatus Act.
    In his closing commentary, Krikorian discusses the government shutdown and the debate over healthcare for illegal immigrants, referencing a recent CIS blog post by Jason Richwine, “Of Course Illegal Immigrants Access Public Health Benefits”. He notes that the budget dispute is real but distracts from a broader truth: Illegal immigrants access public health programs through multiple channels, benefits that will continue regardless of how the shutdown is resolved.

    Host

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

    Guest

    Andrew Arthur is a Fellow in Law and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies.

    Related

    Pentagon to Send 600 Lawyers to Serve as Temporary Immigration Judges

    Of Course Illegal Immigrants Access Public Health Benefits

    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".
    Voir plus Voir moins
    33 min
  • Katie Lam, UK Shadow Minister, on Immigration

    Katie Lam, UK Shadow Minister, on Immigration
    Oct 2 2025
    This week’s episode of Parsing Immigration Policy features Katie Lam, Conservative Member of Parliament for Weald of Kent and a Shadow Home Office Minister, who brings a British perspective on the pressing issue of immigration.

    Since 1974, the UK’s immigration system has been marked by broken promises to the voters and rising numbers – despite repeated pledges to reduce migration. Net migration has averaged 100,000+ annually since 1977, peaking at more than 900,000 in 2023, creating profound economic, cultural, and practical challenges.

    In a conversation with Mark Krikorian, the Center’s Executive Director, Lam argues that both legal and illegal migration must be tackled head-on:

    Legal Migration
    • Current system brings in too many people and is insufficiently selective.
    • Health & Social Care visa was projected to bring in 6,000 entrants – but saw 600,000 arrivals, many not working in the sector.
    • Consequence: artificially low wages, huge costs to taxpayers in part due to long-term settlement rights that provide welfare, housing, and full healthcare.
    • Solution: cut and cap numbers, set clear criteria.
    Illegal Migration
    • Over 30,000 illegal Channel crossings so far this year – the 2025 number will be a record high.
    • Criminal gangs drive the crossings, costing taxpayers 52,000 pounds per person annually – before even receiving asylum – in housing, food, clothing, and spending money.
    • Lam supports the Rwanda plan – a third-country asylum model to deter unlawful entry.
    She also raises concerns about judicial overreach, international treaties, and the erosion of parliamentary authority in controlling borders. Lam makes the case for a reformed Conservative Party to deliver consistent, specific, and enforceable immigration policies – restoring trust with voters and winning in the future election.

    In today's commentary, Mark Krikorian notes the role that taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal aliens plays in the current government shutdown debate and observes that the only major immigration function that stops during a shutdown is E-Verify.

    Host

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

    Guest

    Katie Lamm is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Weald of Kent and a Shadow Home Office Minister.

    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".
    Voir plus Voir moins
    41 min
  • Immigration Newsmaker: A Conversation with U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks

    Immigration Newsmaker: A Conversation with U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks
    Sep 25 2025
    The latest episode of the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast features the audio of a recent sit-down between Executive Director Mark Krikorian and Michael Banks, Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol. During an in-depth discussion, Chief Banks touched on the current state of border security, including apprehension numbers, maritime illegal immigration, northern border challenges, gotaways, recruitment efforts, the role of the National Guard, and more.

    Appointed to lead the agency earlier this year, Banks is a former Border Patrol agent with more than 30 years of federal law enforcement and border security experience. His tenure comes at a critical time, as heightened immigration policy debates dominate the national conversation.

    Host

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

    Guest

    Michael Banks is the Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol.

    Related

    Panel Press Release

    Panel Video

    C-Span Coverage

    CIS Live Stream

    Panel Transcript

    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".
    Voir plus Voir moins
    56 min
  • Immigration Newsmaker: A Conversation with USCIS Director Joseph Edlow

    Immigration Newsmaker: A Conversation with USCIS Director Joseph Edlow
    Sep 18 2025
    The latest episode of the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast features the audio of a recent sit-down between Executive Director Mark Krikorian and Joseph Edlow, the newly confirmed Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In a wide-ranging discussion, Edlow laid out his priorities for the agency — from strengthening fraud detection to reforming visa programs and restoring integrity to the naturalization process.

    On expanding investigative capacity, Edlow said:

    "When you’re adjudicating a green card or a naturalization, that’s a law enforcement action...But this is not a police force. What we are looking at incorporating into USCIS is an investigative agency…to really do a deep dive into immigration fraud, national security issues, and other criminality within the agency’s jurisdiction."

    Other highlights include:

    H-1B visas: “If properly monitored and scrutinized for integrity, H-1B can be a useful tool. But my big concern is the way it keeps U.S. citizens out of the job market, especially recent STEM graduates.”

    Vetting standards: “We want to know everything about these individuals… Anti-American activities at a certain level are not going to be tolerated.”

    Naturalization: “Frankly, this test is just too easy. We need to make it more thought-provoking to ensure new citizens have a real attachment to the Constitution.”

    Temporary Protected Status: “For the first time in a very long time we are not seeing pro-forma renewals...We are looking at all cases and the reasons for the designations, and making a determination based both on whether those conditions still apply … and looking at, again, the foreign policy considerations.”

    Edlow also addressed:
    • Decades of “profligate” work permit issuance to people whose status doesn’t include work authorization and the end of automatic Social Security number approvals.
    • Parole and DACA, calling DACA a “real legal problem” likely requiring congressional resolution.
    • Legislative priorities, including eliminating the Diversity Visa lottery and fixing visa allocations.
    • Expanding Systematic Alien Verification Enterprise (SAVE) access for states to verify voter eligibility, which he called potentially “a gamechanger.”
    • Renewed denaturalization efforts and stronger fraud detection across USCIS.
    Host

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

    Guest

    Joseph Edlow is the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

    Related

    Panel Press Release

    Panel Video

    C-Span Coverage

    CIS Live Stream

    Panel Transcript

    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".
    Voir plus Voir moins
    54 min
  • Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier

    Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier
    Sep 11 2025
    Florida has become a national leader in immigration enforcement, and this week’s episode of Parsing Immigration Policy features an in-depth conversation with Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on the state’s high-profile role.

    Attorney General Uthmeier discusses Florida’s measures to enforce immigration law, protect public safety, and collaborate with federal agencies. Highlights include:
    • Detention Capacity: Florida has three times the immigration detention capacity as the next state, with additional space opening.
      • A repurposed facility recently opened, Deportation Depot.
      • Florida is actively challenging the lawsuit aimed at blocking detention at Alligator Alcatraz. (Host Mark Krikorian follows up after the pre-recorded interview with an update on the state’s recent victory in court.)
    • Law Enforcement Authority: Florida is the first state with all officers certified under Section 287(g), empowering them to assist ICE.
    • Public Safety Threats: From illegal alien truck drivers involved in deadly accidents to child predator stings, the AG underscores the risks of unchecked illegal immigration and shares Florida’s responses.
    • Maritime Enforcement: With between 12,000 and 15,000 interdictions in state waters, Florida deploys the National Guard, troopers, and local law enforcement to stop illegal arrivals before they reach shore.
    • Illegal Presence in Florida Is a State Offense: State law prohibits an illegal alien from entering the state; the law is being challenged.
    • No Sanctuary: State law prohibits sanctuary cities and empowers the state to hold jurisdictions accountable by levying civil fines and removing people from office.
    The episode concludes with commentary from the Center's executive director Mark Krikorian, who provides an update on litigation surrounding “Alligator Alcatraz” and the illegal alien trucker and his employer responsible for three deaths in Florida. He also highlights Jobs.now, a new website that uncovers legally required but often hidden job postings—creating a jobs clearinghouse for Americans and making it harder for employers to convert H-1B visa holders into green card applicants.

    Host

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

    Guest

    James Uthmeier is the Attorney General of the State of Florida.

    Related

    Podcast: The Role of Immigration Detention

    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".
    Voir plus Voir moins
    31 min