Immigration Nerds

Ireland's Immigration Conundrum

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

A confidential government paper recently surfaced in Ireland with a striking conclusion: the country needs migration to keep hospitals open, taxes flowing, and its economy afloat — even as public pressure mounts to tighten the rules. Host Lauren Clarke sits down with Katie McDermott, Managing Director of EIG's UK and Ireland offices, to unpack what that tension looks like on the ground in Dublin.

Katie walks through Ireland's demographic math — a worker-to-pensioner ratio set to fall from 4.5 to 2.3 by 2051 — and what it means for employers competing for global talent in a system that's growing more complex, not less. They also get into the concept of "social license" for immigration, why the economic argument alone isn't enough to move public opinion, and what corporate clients navigating both the UK and Irish systems need to be thinking about right now.

Resource Links:

Book review: In Our Interest: How Democracies Can Make Immigration Popular | Law Gazette

Monitoring Report on Integration 2024 Asylum and Migration Overview 2024: Ireland

GUEST: Katie McDermott, EIG Managing Director, UK & Ireland

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

One Year In — AILA Proposes A Better Way on Immigration

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

One year into the current administration's immigration agenda, the American Immigration Lawyers Association has done the accounting — and the findings are striking. In this episode, Lauren Clarke sits down with Shev Dalal-Dheini, AILA's Senior Director of Government Relations, to walk through the organization's new A Better Way on Immigration policy brief series, the first wave of which examines what has actually happened to legal immigration pathways since January 2025.

The conversation covers the administration's systematic dismantling of congressionally-authorized immigration programs — from TPS cancellations affecting 700,000 people, to paused adjudications leaving millions of applicants in limbo, to the closure of legal pathways for families, workers, and allies. Shev and Lauren also dig into the real-world consequences for U.S. employers, universities, hospitals, and communities — and what it means for America's long-term economic and national security competitiveness when other countries, from Canada to China, are actively recruiting the talent we're pushing away.

GUEST: Shev Dalal-Dheini, Senior Director of Government Relations, AILA

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Resource Links: AILA: A Better Way on Immigration Policy Briefs

Demographic Winter: Why the Midwest Needs Immigration to Survive

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0400

The American Midwest is facing an existential threat—not from outside forces, but from within. Population decline, aging communities, and shrinking tax bases are creating what researcher Dr. Jonathan Burkham calls a "demographic winter." But there's a solution hiding in plain sight: immigration.

In this episode, Lauren Clarke sits down with Dr. Burkham, author of the new book “Migrant Midwest: The Case for Immigration and Economic Growth in the American Heartland,” to explore how the region that once defined American industry and culture has become the least foreign-born area of the country. The conversation traces the Midwest's transformation from an immigration magnet—where 87% of Milwaukee's population at the turn of the 20th century were immigrants or their children—to today's demographic crisis.

Dr. Burkham presents a data-driven case for place-based immigration policy modeled after Canada's Provincial Nominee Program, allowing Midwest states to sponsor immigrants based on local economic needs in manufacturing, healthcare, and beyond. The discussion tackles political rhetoric versus economic reality, immigrant retention, and the fundamental choice facing America: continue growing as a global power, or manage decline like Japan. With evidence showing immigrants are net contributors who assimilate across generations, this conversation reframes immigration as the Midwest's lifeline.

HOST: LAUREN CLARKE

GUEST: Dr. Jonathan Burkham, Associate Professor of Human Geography, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Author of Migrant Midwest: The Case for Immigration and Economic Growth in the American Heartland

NEWS NERD: ROB TAYLOR

PRODUCER: ADAM BELMAR

Resource Links:

Migrant Midwest

The Case for Immigration and Economic Growth in the American Heartland

https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/migrant-midwest-9798216276098/

Olympic Dreams and Immigration Realities

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0400

As the 2026 Winter Olympics approach, Immigration Nerds explores the hidden immigration stories behind Team USA's more than 230 athletes heading to Italy. Immigration researcher Marissa Kiss from George Mason University reveals that nearly 17% of Team USA has direct immigrant ties—including foreign-born athletes from five countries and second-generation immigrants whose parents came from around the world. The conversation between host Lauren Clarke and Marissa covers athletes competing despite citizenship delays, the "reverse flow" of US-born athletes representing other countries, and how immigration policy has become a competitive tool in international sports. Plus, the latest news, including updates on FIFA World Cup visa processing, Texas's H-1B hiring pause for state agencies, and the latest on immigrant visa suspensions.

Resource Links: George Mason University Institute for Immigration Research

HOST: Lauren Clarke

GUEST: Marissa Kiss, Assistant Director, Immigration, Race, and Sports, George Mason University's Institute for Immigration Research

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

End of the H-1B Lottery: Understanding Wage-Weighted Selection

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0400

The H-1B program just underwent its most significant structural change in decades. On December 29, 2025, DHS issued a final rule replacing the random H-1B lottery with a wage-weighted selection system—and it takes effect February 27, just before the fiscal year 2027 cap registration season opens in March.

Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke sits down with EIG's newest partner Naïanka Rigaud to break down exactly how this weighted system works. They explore the complex legal analysis behind wage level determinations, what the 48% decrease in selection probability means for Level 1 registrants versus the 107% increase for Level 4 candidates, and why simply earning a high salary doesn't guarantee a higher wage level classification.

From geographic wage disparities to potential compliance pitfalls, Lauren and Naïanka cover what employers and foreign workers need to understand right now—including the possibility that registration infrastructure might not be ready, potentially reverting to full petition submissions. This is essential listening for anyone navigating H-1B cap season 2027.

GUEST: Naïanka Rigaud, EIG Partner

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Inspiring Immigration Stories Of 2025

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Immigration isn't just about headlines—it's about Nobel laureates, World Series MVPs, and medical breakthroughs that save lives. In this year’s end special, Lauren Clarke welcomes back Forbes senior contributor Stuart Anderson to preview his annual "Most Inspiring Immigration Stories" article.

From Omar Yagi's journey from refugee to Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, to Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto's heroic World Series performance, to a groundbreaking cancer treatment discovered by a PhD student who annoyed her lab mates—these stories reveal the extraordinary contributions immigrants make when America opens its doors. Plus, the remarkable legacy of Charles Watts, who sponsored over 300 Vietnamese refugees. What do these diverse stories tell us about innovation, opportunity, and America itself?

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

The Most Inspiring Immigration Stories Of 2025: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/

https://nfap.com/about-us/biographies/

GUEST: Stuart Anderson/Executive Director, National Foundation for American Policy, Senior Contributor to Forbes

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

2025: The Year That Reshaped Immigration Policy

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0400

2025 marked an unprecedented transformation in U.S. immigration policy. Executive orders attempting to end birthright citizenship, expand travel bans, and suspend refugee programs— along with the chaotic H-1B fee proclamation — fundamentally reshaped both legal and humanitarian immigration pathways.

In this episode, immigration policy strategist Maunica Sthanki joins host Lauren Clarke to examine the executive action-heavy approach, constitutional challenges, and what 217+ executive orders reveal about presidential power limits. They explore the real-world impacts on refugees, employment-based immigration, and asylum seekers—and what polling data suggests about public perception shifting as restrictive policies play out.

Plus, Rob Taylor covers breaking news on Haiti TPS, enhanced vetting requirements, and global immigration tightening trends as we head into 2026's midterm election year.

GUEST: Maunica Sthanki, Immigration Policy and Advocacy Strategist

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Resource Links: https://www.sthankistrategies.com/

Beyond Borders: Why Cultural Exchange Still Matters

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Beyond the headlines about the workforce and the economy lies a visa category designed for something deeper: human connection.

In this episode, Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke explores the J-1 Cultural Exchange Program with Lisa Murray, Director of the Exchange Program at the American Immigration Council. From camp counselors to research scholars, the J-1 brings thousands of cultural ambassadors to American communities each year. These visitors are not in the US to fill permanent jobs, but to build bridges of understanding that transcend borders.

Lisa shares her own teenage exchange experience and explains why these temporary programs matter now more than ever, challenging misconceptions while revealing how cultural diplomacy creates ripple effects that strengthen communities and international relationships for decades to come.

GUEST: Lisa Murray, Director, Exchange Program | American Immigration Council

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Resource Links:

American Immigration Council

US Exchange Visitor Visa

Perfect Storm: H-2A Visas, Government Shutdown, and the Fight to Feed America

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0400

American farms are in crisis. The federal government shutdown froze H-2A visa processing right when farmers need to prepare for planting season. At the same time, major changes to how farm worker wages are calculated are making everything more complicated.

Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke talks with immigration attorney and agricultural labor expert L.J. D'Arrigo about what's happening to the farms that grow our food. As immigration enforcement ramps up and legal pathways get more complex, find out what's really at stake for American agriculture and the workers who feed our nation.

GUEST: L.J. D’Arrigo, Partner, Harris Beach Murtha

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Resource Links:

Bloomberg: Agricultural Employers Rack Up Seasonal Worker Wins Under Trump: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/agricultural-employers-rack-up-seasonal-worker-wins-under-trump

USCIS: H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-2a-temporary-agricultural-workers

"The Day I Realized I Was An Immigrant"

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In this powerful episode of Immigration Nerds, host Lauren Clarke speaks with Hendrika de Vries, author of the new book "Open Turns," about her remarkable journey from surviving World War II in occupied Amsterdam to becoming a champion swimmer and finding her identity as a 13-year-old immigrant in 1950s Australia.

At 87, Henny shares how her family's decision to immigrate was driven by post-war economic hardship in the Netherlands, and how she initially experienced immigration as a loss of freedom and identity—arriving at an immigrant camp where new arrivals were told they would only ever be "new Australians," never simply Australians.

Swimming became Henny's pathway to belonging, offering both athletic achievement and a space where she could transcend the immigrant label. She discusses the complex family dynamics that emerged when she learned English while her mother did not, suddenly becoming her mother's interpreter despite their traditional roles. Throughout, Henny emphasizes themes of resilience, gratitude, and the importance of sharing immigrant stories as acts of resistance against both victimization and demonization.

Drawing on her later career as a family therapist, Henny reflects on how major life turning points—what she calls "open turns"—reveal our true character and strength, making immigrant experiences valuable lessons for navigating all of life's challenges.

Resource Links: Open Turns: From Dutch Girl to New Australian

Guest: Hendrika de Vries, Author of "Open Turns: From Dutch Girl to New Australian"

Host: Lauren Clarke

News Nerd: Rob Taylor

Producer: Adam Belmar

Interview Record: Wednesday, 9/17/25 @ 3:00 PM ET

NEWS NERD Record: 10/13/25 @ 10 AM ET

H-1B Proclamation & Changes Special Report

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In this special episode of the Immigration Nerds Podcast, we break down what President Trump's H-1B proclamation means for employers and employees. Host Lauren Clarke and EIG partner Alejandra Zapatero explain who's actually affected, whether current H-1B holders can travel safely, and what employers should do now. We address the looming legal challenges, the uncertain future of the H-1B lottery, and provide practical guidance for F-1 students and startups navigating tough choices. If you're navigating the H-1B visa right now, this episode tells you what you need to know.

GUESTS: Alejandra Zapatero, EIG PARTNER

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

INTERVIEW RECORD: Monday, September 29, 2025 @ 4:30 PM ET

The Beautiful Game Meets Border Security: FIFA World Cup 2026

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Can America's immigration system handle the 2026 FIFA World Cup? With 3 million daily travelers expected and visa wait times stretching hundreds of days in key countries, we're facing unprecedented challenges.

Ryan Propis from the US Travel Association joins us to discuss what needs to happen now - from expanding visa waiver programs to deploying AI-powered screening technology. This isn't just about soccer; it's about America's ability to welcome the world while maintaining security. This is our first episode in an ongoing series, looking forward to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

GUEST: Ryan Propis, VP of Security and Facilitation, US Travel

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Resource Links:

How New H-1B Rules Could Reshape Foreign Worker Entry to the US

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Host Lauren Clarke dives into major H-1B developments with immigration reporter Andrew Kreighbaum from Bloomberg Law. They discuss the Trump administration's proposed weighted selection rule that cleared White House review, which could fundamentally change the H-1B lottery system from random selection to wage-based allocation. The conversation also covers troubling trends of terminated H-1B workers receiving notices to appear during their grace periods, broader challenges facing foreign workers entering the US, and uncertainty surrounding F-1 student programs and OPT employment options.

GUEST: Andrew Kreighbaum, Immigration Reporter, Bloomberg Law

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Resource Links:

Trump DHS Proposes Limiting Foreign Students to Four Years in US | Bloomberg Law, Reporter Andrew Kreighbaum, Aug. 27, 2025
H-1B Worker Weighted Selection Rule Clears White House Review | Bloomberg Law, Reporter Andrew Kreighbaum, Aug. 11, 2025

USCIS By The Numbers When Policy Meets Administrative Reality

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Host Lauren Clarke and immigration policy analyst Cecilia Esterline from the Niskanen Center break down the latest USCIS data on the Immigration Nerds. With an 18% drop in case completions and I-90 applications seeing 938% longer processing times, the numbers reveal unprecedented administrative strain. From I-765 work authorization backlogs jumping 181% to 450 USCIS employees reassigned to enforcement, we explore how 175 executive actions in 100 days are reshaping America's immigration system through data-driven analysis.

Resource Links:

Immigration Analysis from Cecilia Esterline, Niskanen Center

Guest: Cecilia Esterline, Senior Immigration Policy Analyst, Niskanen Center

Host: Lauren Clarke

News Nerd: Rob Taylor

Producer: Adam Belmar

August 5th Cliff: How Humanitarian Parole and TPS Terminations Are Reshaping American Agriculture

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0400

American farms are facing an unprecedented workforce crisis as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programs for multiple countries terminate this August, threatening to remove an estimated 76,000 agricultural workers from the labor force. But what does this mean for food security, rural economies, and the future of legal farm labor?

Immigration Nerds Host, Lauren Clarke, is joined by immigration attorney LJ D'Arrigo to reveal how farms following the law through H-2A visa programs face greater penalties than those operating in gray areas, creating a dangerous compliance paradox.

D'Arrigo breaks down the "August 5th cliff" – the simultaneous termination of TPS designations for Nepal, Cameroon, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Haiti – and explains why states like Florida (357,000 TPS holders) and Texas (124,000) will be hit hardest. While the Department of Labor signals potential H-2A streamlining efforts, the reality is stark: many longtime farm workers with decades of loyalty to their employers face impossible choices between self-deportation or living in the shadows.

From the human cost of breaking up farm families to the economic impact of losing trained workers, this episode explores practical solutions farms can implement now, the enforcement climate creating fear even among legal workers, and why seasonal agricultural visas may be the one area where immigration reform is actually possible. Essential listening for anyone navigating the intersection of immigration policy and America’s food supply.

GUEST: Leonard J D’Arrigo (LJ), Harris Beach Murtha Partner

HOST: Lauren Clarke, EIG Senior Managing Attorney

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Canada's Immigration Shifts

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Canada's immigration landscape is undergoing a significant shift. But what does this mean for students, skilled workers, and families hoping to build their lives there?

Immigration Nerds Host, Lauren Clarke, delves into the significant policy changes affecting thousands of temporary and permanent residents, joined by international practice experts Justin Storch and Jesse Root.

From stricter student visa requirements to reduced provincial nomination quotas, discover how these changes may impact an individual's or employer's immigration strategy and whether Canada remains a viable alternative to U.S. immigration pathways. This episode is essential listening for anyone navigating the evolving Canadian immigration system.

GUESTS: Justin Storch, Associate Attorney, EIG International Practice; Jesse Root, International Practice Project Manager

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor, EIG Partner

HOST: Lauren Clarke, EIG Senior Managing Attorney

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

An Independence Day Reflection: The Journey to American Citizenship

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0400

In this newest episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, we explore what it truly means to become an American. Host Lauren Clarke talks to author Rajani LaRocca, whose latest children's book "Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States," offers a poignant look at the immigration and naturalization process. Through beautiful prose and captivating illustrations, LaRocca guides readers through this deeply personal yet universally significant journey that defines so much of our nation's character.

GUEST: Rajani LaRocca, Author, Physician, Naturalized Citizen

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Show Links:

Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States

Immigration Solutions for America's Care Workforce Crisis

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400

America faces a critical shortage in its care workforce, the millions of workers who provide childcare, elder care, and support for people with disabilities. With 9 million job openings expected in direct care over the next decade and an aging population that will see 89 million Americans over 65 by 2060, this crisis affects every family.

In this episode, host Lauren Clarke sits down with Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, Senior Fellow at the National Skills Coalition, to explore how immigration policy intersects with America's growing demand for care workers. You'll discover that immigrants already comprise one in four direct care workers and one in three home care workers. Yet, policy barriers often prevent talented caregivers from filling these essential roles.

Plus, immigration news from Erickson Immigration Group partner Rob Taylor, covering the latest developments affecting F-1 students from China and Hong Kong, new restrictions on Harvard exchange programs, and the implementation of a new travel ban affecting 19 countries.

Show Links:

Workforce Advisory Council to Address Urgent Care Workforce Needs: https://nationalskillscoalition.org/news/press-releases/nsc-launches-care-workforce-advisory-council/

Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History

Thu, 29 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Discover the hidden culinary history of Asian heritage chefs who've served U.S. presidents. Host Lauren Clarke welcomes food historian Adrian Miller and chef Deborah Chang, co-authors of "Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History: Cooking to the President's Taste." From Lee Ping Quan's presidential yacht service in the 1920s to Chef Cristeta Comerford's 19-year tenure as White House Executive Chef, learn how these talented cooks navigated anti-Asian immigration policies while introducing authentic dishes to America's first families.

The episode explores how military service provided a pathway to citizenship, reveals surprising fusion recipes from presidential kitchens, and demonstrates food's power as cultural diplomacy. Plus, the latest immigration news with EIG partner Rob Taylor.

This episode is part of our ongoing "Food of Immigrants" series, this month featuring stories that highlight Asian American, Hawaiian, and Native Pacific Islander heritage during their heritage month.

GUESTS: Co-Authors of "Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History: Cooking to the President's Taste"

Adrian Miller, Author, Food Historian, James Beard Award Winner

Deborah Chang, Chef, Recipe Developer, Attorney

HOST: LAUREN CLARKE

NEWS NERD: ROB TAYLOR

PRODUCER: ADAM BELMAR

Show Links:

Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History: Cooking to the President’s Taste

How Immigration Impacts the Solvency and Sustainability of Social Security

Thu, 15 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Immigration Nerds Podcast, we explore how immigration directly impacts the solvency and sustainability of Social Security with economist Dr. Tara Watson, Director of the Center for Economic Security and Opportunity at the Brookings Institution.

As America faces an aging population and declining birth rates, Dr. Watson explains how immigrants serve as economic contributors to our retirement systems, often paying far more into Social Security than they'll ever receive in benefits. She breaks down the demographic math behind our current crisis, presents evidence-based solutions that could extend Social Security's viability, and discusses how immigration policies might help. This episode will examine the data-driven relationship between immigration and one of America's most essential safety net programs.

GUEST: Dr. Tara Watson, Director, Center for Economic Security and Opportunity, Brookings Institution

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Eight Days Too Late: A Tech Leader's Extraordinary Immigration Journey

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400

What does it feel like to miss your green card approval by just eight days after waiting for nearly a decade? In this compelling episode, we follow KC Lakshminarasimham's 16-year odyssey through America's labyrinthine immigration system.

From his unexpected arrival in the U.S. during the 2008 recession to coming heartbreakingly close to permanent residency, only to have bureaucratic delays slam the door shut at the last moment, KC's story captures both the frustration and determination required to navigate employment-based immigration. Adding to the complexity, his wife—a qualified dentist—faced her own career obstacles due to her dependent visa status.

After years of setbacks and a devastating near-miss, discover how KC finally achieved success by proving his "extraordinary ability" when traditional paths failed him. This eye-opening conversation reveals the human cost behind immigration statistics and offers crucial insights for skilled professionals facing similar challenges. Don't miss this powerful testament to perseverance that illuminates why America's immigration policies matter for our technological and economic leadership.

GUEST: KC Lakshminarasimham "Lack-shmee-nara-sim-ham"

HOST: Lauren Clarke

INTERVIEWER: Justin Parsons

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

The View from Here: Navigating Business Immigration 90 Days into Trump's Second Term

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In this timely episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, host Lauren Clarke is joined by Erickson Immigration Group partners, Rob Taylor and Alejandra Zapatero, to analyze the immigration landscape 90 days into President Trump's second administration.

GUEST: Alejandra Zapatero, Erickson Immigration Group Partner and Rob Taylor, Erickson Immigration Group Partner

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Between Two Worlds: Composer Kevin Charoensri's Rising Light

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In this compelling episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, we speak with composer Kevin Charoensri, whose dream opportunity to have his music performed by "The President's Own" United States Marine Band was abruptly canceled by a presidential executive order restricting diversity initiatives.

Despite this setback, Kevin's composition has gained remarkable attention. This episode explores immigration, cultural identity, artistic expression, and resilience.

Show Links:

Kevin Charoensri
RISING LIGHT - Kevin Charoensri Performed by the University of California - Los Angeles Wind Ensemble under Travis Cross.

GUEST: Kevin Charoensri

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Maximizing America's Potential: The Bush Institute's Blueprint for Immigration Reform

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Immigration Nerds, host Lauren Clarke sits down with Laura Collins, Director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, to explore their 2025 policy recommendations on immigration reform. Collins presents a compelling economic case for modernizing America's immigration system, highlighting how immigration serves as a competitive advantage even when legal frameworks may fail to maximize its potential. The conversation delves into temporary worker visa programs, employment-based green cards, and the role of refugee resettlement in global security. Collins offers forward-thinking perspectives on how immigration can address America's demographic challenges, particularly as future workforce growth shifts to regions like Sub-Saharan Africa.

INTERVIEW RECORD: Wednesday, 3/12/25 @ 11:30 aM ET

Show Links:

George W. Bush Institute | Policy Recommendation | January 13, 2025: Reforming Our Immigration System to Maximize America's Potential

GUEST: Laura Collins, Director, George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

"Our American Dream" - An Immigration Story in Rhyme

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Immigration Nerds, host Lauren Clarke explores how Fiona McEntee's children's book "Our American Dream" finally has its moment five years after its original release. As immigration continues to dominate headlines in February 2025, this collection of positive immigration stories told through rhyming verse has become more relevant than ever.

McEntee, an Irish immigrant and immigration attorney herself, discusses how she's getting her book into the hands of children who need its message most - including community centers in areas where immigrants have faced hostility. She shares how the book is helping immigrant children feel welcome during uncertain times and giving teachers a tool to have age-appropriate conversations about immigration in classrooms.

The episode also features Immigration News Nerd Rob Taylor with updates on TPS termination for Haiti, new visa interview waiver restrictions at several US consulates, and a reminder about the upcoming H-1B cap registration period.

Show Links:

Our American Dream: https://www.ouramericandreambooks.com/

Immigration Safe at School

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In an era of shifting immigration policies, how can schools protect their most vulnerable students? This urgent episode features Luma Mufleh, founder of Fugees Family Inc., who has created a groundbreaking School Crisis Playbook for deportation response. Drawing from her personal experience as a refugee and educator, Mufleh provides crucial insights into preparing schools for immigration enforcement scenarios while maintaining student dignity and hope.

GUESTS: Luma Mufleh, Fugees Family

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Show Links:

Immigration and the New Executive Orders

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke talks with Erickson Immigration Group partners Alejandra Zapatero and Hiba Anver about President Trump's new executive orders on immigration following his second-term inauguration on January 20, 2025. They break down three major changes: potential new travel bans affecting certain countries, stricter rules for existing visa programs, and a controversial attempt to change birthright citizenship rules.

Zapatero and Anver explain how these orders might face legal challenges in court, especially the birthright citizenship order, which tries to change how the 14th Amendment is interpreted.

They emphasize that while many of these changes could significantly impact legal immigrants and their families, the full effects aren't yet clear as courts review the orders and agencies work out implementation details.

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

Trump Presidential Actions: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/
EIG Day 1 Summary | The Trump Administration's Immigration Executive Orders: https://eiglaw.com/trump-administration-immigration-executive-orders/

StreetWise Partners and the Importance of Mentorship in the Immigration Story

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0400

January is National Mentoring month, and in this episode of Immigration Nerds, we explore StreetWise Partners' transformative mentorship program helping underemployed job seekers, particularly immigrants and first-generation Americans, navigate the U.S. job market. CEO Shari Krull discusses how their 2,500-strong volunteer network provides crucial career coaching, while recent mentee graduate, Denise Phillips, shares her inspiring journey from São Paulo's underprivileged community to securing a senior project management role at a major hospitality company - achieving a standout role, and personal and professional confidence in her career.

Erickson Immigration Group is proud to be a national corporate partner to StreetWise Partners.

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

StreetWise Partners: https://www.streetwisepartners.org/

Denise Phillips, StreetWise Mentee: https://www.streetwisepartners.org/success-stories/denises-story

National Mentoring Month 2025: https://www.mentoring.org/campaigns/national-mentoring-month/

Inspiring Immigration Stories Of 2024

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Forbes senior contributor Stuart Anderson joins host Lauren Clarke to discuss his article highlighting 2024's most inspiring immigration stories. Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation for American Policy, shares remarkable stories, including Albert Oso Asari, a Ghanaian tech entrepreneur who overcame H-1B visa challenges to found a billion-dollar company; six immigrant construction workers who tragically died in the Baltimore bridge collapse; Gil Howard, an 82-year-old professor who has taught over 400 Afghan women to drive; and Bernard Kimono, a Congolese refugee who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to join the U.S. national soccer team.

GUEST: Stuart Anderson, Executive Director, National Foundation for American Policy & Senior Contributor to Forbes

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

The Most Inspiring Immigration Stories Of 2024

Stuart Anderson on Forbes

National Foundation for American Policy

From Debate to Innovation: Meet the High School Student Revolutionizing Immigration Policy

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Tarun Batchu, a remarkable high school junior from Powell, Ohio, who has developed an innovative algorithm that could transform how we approach immigration policy. As the child of Indian immigrants, Tarun's personal connection to immigration inspired him to create Nexus, a groundbreaking tool that analyzes migration patterns using artificial intelligence and real-time data.

Already garnering attention from international institutions including the French and Sri Lankan Foreign Ministries, Tarun's work demonstrates how the next generation is bringing fresh perspectives and technological solutions to complex global challenges. Join us for a fascinating conversation about the intersection of technology, policy, and the future of immigration, as we explore how a high school debate topic evolved into a potentially game-changing innovation for global migration management.

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

Tarun Batchu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarun-batchu-986017284/

GUEST: Tarun Batchu, Developer, Nexus immigration algorithm

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Immigration Travel Tips: Before You Take Off

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Erickson Immigration Group Partner Rob Taylor joins Immigration Nerds Host Lauren Clarke to discuss what preparations visa holders need to make before they embark on international travel at the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025.

Hit play to learn what essential documents you need to have in order and with you when you travel. Hear the tips that can help you with visa processing and how to handle possible administrative delays, plus what to consider when it comes to potential impacts on travel from the U.S. administration change on January 20, 2025.

Immigration Policy at the Crossroads: A Conversation with Shev Dalal-Dheini

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Immigration Nerds, host Lauren Clarke speaks with Shev Dalal-Dheini, Senior Director of Government Relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), about the evolving landscape of legal immigration in 2024. They discuss recent H-1B reforms, increased filing fees, the future of programs like DACA and TPS, and the impact of Supreme Court decisions on immigration policy ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS: American Immigration Lawyers Association

GUEST: Sharvari (Shev) Dalal-Dheini, Senior Director of Government Relations, American Immigration Lawyers Association

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Interview Recorded 10/30/24

Australia's Impending Immigration Changes

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Immigration Nerds explores Australia's impending changes to the Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage Visa Program. Host Lauren Clarke is joined by Erickson Immigration Group's Martin Russell and Catherine Thomas from Melbourne for an explainer on the Subclass 482, and potential benefits and challenges for employers and applicants in the evolving Australian immigration landscape.

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS: Subclass 482-Temporary Skill Shortage Visa

GUEST: Martin Russell, EIG Senior Manager, Australia and Catherine Thomas, EIG Senior Manager, Australia

HOST: Lauren Clarke, Managing Attorney

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor, Partner

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

H-2A Visas and Worker Protections

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 06:00:00 -0400

The labor shortage facing America’s farmers and ranchers is persistent and costly. The H-2A visa program for temporary agricultural workers is a critical option for this business. Host Lauren Clarke is joined by immigration attorney L.J. D'Arrigo to explain the H-2A program's purpose, requirements, and challenges for both employers and workers. Plus, get the latest on DOL’s recent regulatory changes and ongoing litigation.

GUEST: Leonard J. D'Arrigo / Harris Beach

HOST: Lauren Clarke, Erickson Immigration Group Managing Attorney

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor, Partner & Shareholder

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

From Australia: Food of Immigrants Colombo Social

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Discover how a Sri Lankan immigrant's love for his mother's cooking sparked a culinary revolution in Sydney. Shaun Christie-David's Colombo Social isn't just serving up delicious dishes – it's changing lives. From empowering refugees to bridging cultural divides, learn how food is becoming a powerful force for social change in Australia. This is the third episode of Immigration Nerd’s special series: Food of Immigrants where we celebrate cultural heritage and fostering community understanding through food.

GUEST: Shaun Chistie-David, Chief Executive Officer – Plate it Forward

HOST: Lauren Clarke,

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

The Hart-Celler Act at 60 Reshaping American Immigration

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In this special episode of the Immigration Nerds Podcast, host Lauren Clarke welcomes renowned UCLA law professor Hiroshi Motomura for an in-depth discussion on the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, also known as the Hart-Celler Act.

Professor Motomura provides a detailed analysis of this landmark legislation, explaining how it fundamentally changed U.S. immigration policy by abolishing the discriminatory national origins quota system and establishing a new framework based on family reunification and attracting skilled labor. He describes the act as a "sea change" in American immigration law and frames it within the broader context of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.

This special episode offers listeners a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of a pivotal moment in U.S. immigration history and its lasting effects on American society.

GUEST: Hiroshi Motomura, Susan Westerberg Prager Distinguished Professor of Law, UCLA School of Law

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

AI and Immigration Progress and Promise

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In October 2023, President Biden issued the "Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence" with special actions related to immigration and the advancement of AI.

This newest episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast looks at how President Biden's Executive Order is impacting immigration, the progress for the implementation of these actions and the deadlines being met, and, perhaps, most importantly, what challenges confront the adaptation of immigration policies to rapidly evolving AI technologies. Immigration Nerds Host Lauren Clarke is joined by special guest Sophie Alcorn for a review on AI and immigration.

GUEST: Sophie Alcorn, Founder, Alcorn Immigration Law and Host, The Sophie Alcorn Podcast

HOST: Lauren Clarke, Erickson Immigration Group Senior Attorney

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor, Erickson Immigration Group Partner & Shareholder

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. 10/30/23

Summer's Immigration Policy Shake-Up

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Immigration Nerds, host Lauren Clarke and Erickson Immigration Group attorneys Andy Finkle and Kai Bostock discuss three major immigration policy changes announced in June 2024. They break down President Biden's executive orders on asylum seekers, new work visa processes for DACA recipients, and a parole program for undocumented spouses of US citizens.

(This episode was recorded before the Supreme Court decision on Chevron deference.)

Guests: Andy Finkle, Senior Managing Attorney, EIG and Kai Bostock, Associate Attorney, EIG

Host: Lauren Clarke

Producer: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

Diaspora Stories: Supporting STEM Education in Somaliland

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, we hear the inspiring story of two expats from Somaliland who are transforming lives through education. Asha Farah, founder of the Burao Academy of Science & Technology, and Yasmin Mirreh, EIG Senior Attorney and volunteer and advocate, talk about how STEM education has become a beacon of hope for Somali youth.

Learn how their transnational community leverages the power of immigration to create opportunities and foster global connections. Be inspired by the academy's remarkable achievements in STEM education and its impact on students, families, and the future of Somaliland. Don't miss this powerful episode that celebrates the potential of education and the resilience of the human spirit. Tune in to Immigration Nerds now!

HOST: Lauren Clarke

GUESTS: Yasmin Mirreh, Senior Attorney, International Practice, EIG; Asha Farah, Co-Founder, Burao Academy of Science and Technology located in Somaliland

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

AANHPI Heritage Month 2024 with Dr. Ken Fong, Host of the Asian America Podcast

Thu, 30 May 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In this powerful and insightful episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, host Lauren Clarke sits down with Dr. Ken Fong, host of the Asian America Podcast, to celebrate Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Dr. Fong shares his own family's compelling immigration story, highlighting his grandfather's journey to America, the challenges faced by Chinese immigrants during the Chinese Exclusion Act era, and his father's brave service in World War II. The conversation delves into the importance of storytelling in showcasing the diverse experiences and contributions of Asian Americans, which are often underrepresented in mainstream media and history.

This episode serves as a powerful reminder of the significance of AANHPI Heritage Month and the ongoing need to celebrate and uplift the stories of this vibrant and essential part of the American fabric.

Lauren is also joined by Alejandra Zapatero, partner at Erickson Immigration Group, for a timely discussion on essential summer travel tips. From passport validity to visa appointment wait times and required documents, you’ll hear all the crucial advice to help ensure a smooth international travel experience for immigrants when you hit play.

GUEST: Dr. Ken Fong, Host, Asian America Podcast

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Alejandra Zapatero

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

Asian America: The Ken Fong Podcast

Asian & Pacific American Heritage Month

Cocina Libre: Immigrant Resistance Recipes

Thu, 16 May 2024 06:00:00 -0400

This new episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast invites listeners to pull up a chair as we talk about how the immigrant journey and story is shared by the bowl full through our culinary heritage.

Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke is joined by Dr. Julia Roncoroni and Dr. Delio Figueroa from the University of Denver, to talk about their new book, Cocina Libre: Immigrant Resistance Recipes. This is a cookbook that goes beyond recipes, to capture time and place and amplify the voices of immigrants.

GUESTS: Dr. Julia Roncoroni & Dr. Delio Figueroa

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

Cocina Libre: Immigrant Resistance Recipes

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition

Constitutional Challenges in Immigration Enforcement

Thu, 02 May 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Federal judges in Georgia and Texas challenge the process of anti-discrimination enforcement by questioning the constitutionality of administrative law judges' authority.

In two separate cases involving SpaceX and Walmart, the courts weigh in on whether administrative law judges can render decisions without adequate oversight from the President or Attorney General. Join Immigration Nerds host, Lauren Clarke, and legal expert Cyrus D. Mehta as they explore the potential implications of these rulings on immigration enforcement and corporate accountability in the latest episode of the Immigration Nerds Podcast.

GUEST: Cyrus Mehta, managing partner at Cyrus D. Mehta & Partners

HOST: Lauren Clarke, EIG Senior Attorney

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor, EIG Partner and Shareholder

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

Walmart Prevails on Claims DOJ’s Judges Are Unconstitutional

SpaceX Wins Anti-Migrant Bias Case | The Dallas Express

SpaceX, Walmart Court Wins Imperil US Immigration Bias Cases | Bloomberg LAW

Gold Medals and the P-Visa: An Olympic Preview

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Join us for a gnarly ride forward the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In this episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, we keep it stateside an examine why the P-1A is the visa that lets professional, international athletes be everywhere they want to be. EIG attorney, skateboard enthusiast, and P-1 visa expert, Sebastian Zavala, joins host Lauren Clarke for a medal-worthy episode.

GUEST: Sebastian Zavala, Associate Attorney, EIG LAW

HOST: Lauren Clarke, EIG Senior Attorney

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor, EIG Partner & Shareholder

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

LA28 Olympic Games: Opening Ceremony July 14, 2028

P-1A Visas

U.S. State Department Nonimmigrant Visa Resources

New Obstacles for F-1 Visa Athletes

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Could the rights of college athletes to monetize their personal brand, which consists of their name, image, and likeness potentially upend the F-1 visa class? Host Lauren Clarke is joined by Bloomberg Law Immigration reporter Andrew Kreighbaum for a deep dive on emerging risks to student visa eligibility.

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

Bloomberg Law reporting by Andrew Kreighbaum

International Student-Athlete Participation

GUEST: Andrew Kreighbaum, Immigration Reporter, Bloomberg Law

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Washington’s Cherry Trees: Cultural Exchange

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In this Women's History Month episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, we explore how immigration is not just about the movement of people, but also about the migration of ideas that enrich lives. Host, and EIG senior attorney, Lauren Clarke, is joined by Diana Parsell, author of the book, Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Journalist Behind Washington's Cherry Trees, for an inspiring look at a beautiful symbol of cultural exchange and an enduring connection between the people of Japan and America.

Guest: Diana P. Parsell, Author of the book, Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Journalist Behind Washington's Cherry Trees

News Nerd: Rob Taylor, EIG Partner & Shareholder

Host: Lauren Clarke

Producer: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

The State of Legal Immigration with David J. Bier, Cato Institute

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In an interview recorded on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke talked to David J. Bier, Associate Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute about the state of America's legal immigration system.

Mr. Bier recently testified at a hearing before the Committee on Oversight and Accountability in the United States House of Representatives. In that testimony and on this episode of the Immigration Nerds, Bier discusses the the parole sponsorship program, illegal encounters at the border, and his analysis of what legal immigration should look like in the United States.

GUEST: David J. Bier, Associate Director of Immigration Studies | Cato Institute

HOST: Lauren Clarke, Senior Attorney, Erickson Immigration Group

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor, Partner & Shareholder, Erickson Immigration Group

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

Immigration Hearing of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability for United States House of Representatives January 17, 2024

Domestic Visa Renewal Launch & the Latest Immigration News

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0400

The H-1B Domestic Visa Renewal pilot program launched on January 29, 2024. The Immigration Nerds - senior attorney and host, Lauren Clarke and senior managing attorney consular affairs, Diane Holcombe-Geddens - talk about the program and share valuable insight and process notes as the program gets underway.

GUEST: Diane Holcombe-Geddens, Senior Managing Attorney, Consular Affairs, EIG

HOST: Lauren Clarke, Erickson Immigration Group, Senior Attorney

NEWS: Rob Taylor, Erickson Immigration Group Partner

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS: Domestic Renewal of H-1B Nonimmigrant Visas for Certain Applicants

"Welcome the Wretched" with Author and Immigration Lawyer César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke interviews César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández, author of the book, Welcome the Wretched: In Defense of the “Criminal Alien,” which explores the intersection of US immigration law and the criminal justice system.

Also in this episode, news updates on USCIS policy guidance on student visas and fee increases for immigration services.

GUEST: César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández / Author, Immigration Lawyer, Gregory H. Williams Chair in Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

Welcome the Wretched: In Defense of the “Criminal Alien,” by César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández

Ep. 200: Inspiring Immigration Stories Of 2023 with Stuart Anderson

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0400

The Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke is joined by Stuart Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation for American Policy, to discuss his Forbes article, "The Most Inspiring Immigration Stories Of 2023." Hit play and learn about a teenage immigrant from Ethiopia who became one of America's top young scientists; a Mexican immigrant who became a successful entrepreneur; a Vietnamese refugee who won an Academy Award; and a group of Ukrainian refugees who helped Mississippi tornado victims.

GUEST: Stuart Anderson, Executive Director, National Foundation for American Policy & Senior Contributor, Forbes

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS: The Most Inspiring Immigration Stories Of 2023 By Stuart Anderson, Senior Contributor, Forbes

From COP28: Climate Migration, A Global Challenge

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0400

Guest: Dan Restrepo & Erin Sikorsky, Climate Migration Council

Host: Lauren Clarke & Hiba Anver

Producer: Adam Belmar

On this episode of the Immigration Nerds Podcast we discuss the issue of climate migration. Host Lauren Clarke is joined by Erickson Immigration Group Partner Hiba Anver and featured guests Dan Restrepo and Erin Sikorsky from the Climate Migration Council. They discussed the expected displacement of over 200 million individuals worldwide by 2050 due to climate change, and the need for a human-centered approach to migration, focusing on protecting the rights of affected communities, and enabling safe, regular, and orderly migration pathways.

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

Climate Migration Council

Climate Migration Explainer

4Ocean

Realizing the Full Costs of the Green Card Backlog

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Immigration Nerd Podcast we discuss the US Green Card system backlog of 7.6 million individuals waiting for lawful permanent residency and a new report that predicts nearly $4 trillion in economic gains to the US economy over the next decade if the backlog was cleared. Bloomberg Law immigration reporter Andrew Kreighbaum joins host Lauren Clarke to discuss the financial and human cost of the backlog.

GUEST: Andrew Kreighbaum, Immigration Reporter, Bloomberg Law

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

The Demographic Transition: An Overview of America’s Aging Population and Immigration’s Mediating Role

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Immigration Nerds we discuss the demographic crisis of the "graying of America" and the long-term economic challenges it poses to the United States.

Host Lauren Clarks talks to Ben Gitis, Associate Director, Economy & Immigration, Bipartisan Policy Center, about their report highlighting the role of immigration in addressing this crisis. The report explains that the aging population and slowing population growth lead to a decline in labor force participation, which hampers economic growth. Immigration is seen as a vital tool to counteract these trends by welcoming workers who can fill open positions, contribute to productivity, and support programs like Social Security and Medicare. The report also mentions that other countries, such as Canada, have implemented aggressive immigration policies to address labor shortages, highlighting the urgency for the US to do the same.

GUEST: Ben Gitis, Associate Director, Economy & Immigration, Bipartisan Policy Center

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

Discussing DACA with the American Immigration Lawyers Association

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 06:00:00 -0400

Hit play for the very latest news and analysis on DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program. On Wednesday, September 13, 2023, a federal judge in Texas once again ruled that DACA is unlawful. What does this latest ruling mean for Dreamers right now? What is the Major QuestIons doctrine? And how might it impact the opinions of the US Supreme Court’s nine Justices? Host Lauren Clarke is joined by Jeremy McKinney, the 2022-2023 President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and current member of AILA's Executive Committee and Board of Governors, for a conversation full of analysis and context.

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

National Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month Events at Smithsonian Institution

Library of Congress Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

GUEST: Jeremy McKinney / 2022-2023 President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and current member of AILA's Executive Committee and Board of Governors

HOST: Lauren Clarke, Senior Attorney, Erickson Immigration Group

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

TPS for African Countries, featuring Nils Kinuani, Human Rights Advocate & Immigration Coordinator for the Congolese Community of Washington Metropolitan (CCWM)

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0400

Temporary protected status is back in the news. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has recently extended TPS for Ukraine, Sudan, and other countries. On this episode of the Immigration Nerds, host Lauren Clarke has details on all the TPS headlines plus a powerful interview with Nils Kinuani, a human rights advocate leading a campaign for TPS for Congolese immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

Host: Lauren Clarke

Producer: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

OPINION: Temporary protected status could save Congolese lives, Special to the AFRO July 27, 2023, By Nils Kinuani
US extends temporary protected status for Ukraine, Sudan nationals
USCIS: Temporary Protected Status

Immigration Nerds Spotlight Women in the Law: Betsy Fisher, U.S. Director, Talent Beyond Boundaries

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0400

This August, Erickson Immigration Group hosted a very special Women in the Law event with Betsy Fisher, the U.S. Director of Talent Beyond Boundaries.

Host Lauren Clarke and EIG partner Hiba Mona Anver share Hiba's previously recorded conversation with Betsy, as she shares insights from her career as a woman in the law, and highlights from her work with Talent Beyond Boundaries and their efforts to match refugees with U.S. employers in need of their skills and remove obstacles.

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

Talent Beyond Boundaries https://www.talentbeyondboundaries.org/

GUEST: Betsy Fisher / U.S. Director, Talent Beyond Boundaries

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

HOST: Lauren Clarke

GUEST INTERVIEWER: Hiba Anver

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Food of Immigrants: Diplomacy by the Dish

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0400

We invite you to join us around the table to meet the immigrant chefs who celebrate their culture, share diverse cuisine, and nourish our communities.

In our inaugural episode of this Immigration Nerds series, Food of Immigrants, host Lauren Clarke takes you to meet Chef Maziar Farivar and his brother Shahab Farivar, the owners of the Peacock Café in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington D.C.

For 25 years, these two brothers from Iran have successfully bridged cultures rich in history with menu items that honor tradition while infusing locally sourced ingredients.

Nerds, hit play to dig into taste and culture and meet the culinary diplomats that strengthen the fabric of America.

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

Peacock Café | Established in 1991, Peacock Cafe is a tradition in Georgetown life. Chef Maziar Farivar has been featured at the prestigious James Beard Foundation Dinner and is amongst the chefs across the nation to be selected for the US State Department’s American Culinary Corps. https://www.peacockcafe.com/

American Culinary Corps | In partnership with the James Beard Foundation, the Department of State has curated the American Culinary Corps, a network of more than 80 of the United States’ influential chefs and culinary professionals who participate in programs and events on behalf of the Department of State in the United States and abroad to foster cross-cultural exchange. https://www.state.gov/diplomatic-culinary-partnership/

Chef Maziar Farivar at the White House | On March 11, 2015, First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed all to a celebration of the Persian New Year, Nowruz, at the White House. Chef Maziar did the cooking! https://youtu.be/ZOQj50TUUiw

How Do We Get to "Dreamland"? Talking to Author Dr. Carly Goodman about America's Immigration Lottery

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0400

Immigration can be a gamble. For some the winning ticket comes via the United States Diversity Visa Lottery. Join Immigration Nerds host, and Erickson Immigration Group senior attorney, Lauren Clarke for a fascinating conversation with the author of the book, Dreamland - America's Immigration Lottery in an Age of Restriction, Carly Beth Goodman, Ph.D.

Show Links:

Buy the book: Dreamland

Guest: Carly Goodman, PhD, Author of Dreamland: America's Immigration Lottery in an Age of Restriction

News Nerd: Rob Taylor, EIG Partner

Host: Lauren Clarke, EIG Senior Attorney

Producer: Adam Belmar

U.S. H-1B Visa Holders Wooed by Canada

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0400

The Immigration Nerds is back with the details on Canada’s aggressive new approach to attracting high skilled workers from right here in the United States. Immigration Nerds host and Erickson Immigration Group Senior Attorney Lauren Clarke talks to Justin Storch, Associate Attorney, International Practice, and Jesse Root, International Practice Project Manager, about Canada's big immigration announcements, and catches-up wth EIG partner Alejanda Zapatero on the latest immigration news worldwide.

Hit play for the latest information and what it might mean for you or your employees.

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Alejandra Zapatero

GUESTS: Justin Storch, Associate Attorney, International Practice, and Jesse Root, International Practice Project Manager

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Getting Ready for Summer Travel

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0400

The summer travel season is here, and for foreign nationals, there are special considerations that must be taken in advance of any international travel.

In this episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, Erickson Immigration Group partner, Alejandra Zapatero joins host Lauren Clarke for a Nerds-worthy conversation about how to make sure your summer travel documents packing list is complete.

HOST: Lauren Clarke

NEWS NERD: Alejandra Zapatero

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW LINKS:

Immigrant Heritage Month: June is Immigrant Heritage Month. As of 2022, June was designated National Immigrant Heritage Month, recognizing the countless contributions that immigrants have had on our country.

https://www.iamanimmigrant.com/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/05/31/a-proclamation-on-national-immigrant-heritage-month-2023/

https://www.state.gov/celebrating-national-immigrant-heritage-month/

https://www.pbsbooks.org/2023/06/13/immigrant-heritage-month/

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

LinkedIn LIVE: Immigration Nerd Special Report: Compelling Circumstances EAD

Wednesday, June 28th at 3:00 PM ET

https://www.linkedin.com/company/erickson-immigration-group

I-9 Verification Deadline & Compliance

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security declared July 31, 2023, as the end date for COVID-related I-9 verification flexibilities. They have also mandated that all I-9s verified using those temporary flexibilities must now be reverified in-person by August 30, 2023.

Hit play for a detailed explanation of everything I-9 and how employers and employees can ensure compliance.

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW LINKS:

PRIDE MONTH: Library of Congress Research Guides: LGBTQ+ Legal Resources: A Beginner’s Guide

I-9 RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

Acceptable documents: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
FAQs regarding remote verification: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-related-news/questions-and-answers-related-to-covid-19
I-9 examples: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-examples-related-to-temporary-covid-19-policies

Australia's New Pathway

Wed, 31 May 2023 16:00:00 -0400

The Australian government is expanding pathways to permanent residency through a new visa program for highly skilled foreign workers. Hit play to get details on changes in the occupation lists, how it impacts visa eligibility, and the new role for labor market testing. Erickson Immigration Group senior manager for Australia, Martin Russell, joins host Lauren Clarke from Melbourne.

Show Links: C-SPAN Congress's Chutzpah

GUEST: Martin Russell, EIG Senior Manager, Australia

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Being a Digital Nomad in 2023 & the Latest Immigration News

Fri, 19 May 2023 06:00:00 -0400

What does it mean to be a digital nomad in the year 2023? Is taking your job with you as you travel the world more than just a trend? Veteran digital nomad Josh Andrews joins the podcast from Medellin, Colombia, to help define terms and share perspectives on the lifestyle and its promise. Hit play to hear if digital nomading is right for you and what types of jobs travel best.

GUEST: Josh Andrews, Digital Nomad & Director of People & Culture at Remote Year

NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

Show links:

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institute, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success.

Asianpacificheritage.gov

National Archives

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

Library of Congress

Canada's Immigration Opportunity with Ruairi Spillane, CEO of Moving2Canada

Thu, 04 May 2023 06:00:00 -0400

In this latest episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, we nerd out on the immigration policies of Canada, a nation whose population grew by over one million people for the first time ever last year and is expecting to welcome another 1.5 million permanent residents by the end of 2025. So who better to discuss Canadian immigration with than a Canadian immigrant? Our host Lauren Clare is joined by Ruairi Spillane, founder, and CEO of Moving2Canada and Outpost Recruitment.

H-1B Hot Topics with AILA Director of Government Relations, Shev Dalal-Dheini

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -0400

In this week's episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, we invite you to hit play for all the facts surrounding the hottest topics for H-1B visa holders right now: cap selection, grace periods, and domestic visa renewals.

Host and EIG Senior Attorney Lauren Clarke is joined for a far-reaching discussion by Shev Dalal-Dheini, Director of Government Relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Featured Guest: Shev Dalal-Dheini, Director of Government Relations, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

News Nerd: Rob Taylor, EIG Partner

Host: Lauren Clarke, EIG Senior Attorney, and Immigration Nerds host

Rivermouth, A Chronicle of Language, Faith, and Migration with Author Alejandra Oliva

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 08:45:00 -0400

In this week's Immigration Nerds podcast episode, host Lauren Clarke speaks with Alejandra Oliva, author of the new book, Rivermouth — A Chronicle of Language, Faith, and Migration. In Rivermouth, Oliva focuses on the physical spaces that make up different phases of immigration and looks at how language and opportunity move through each of them; from the river as the waterway that separates the US and Mexico to the table as the place over which Oliva prepares asylum seekers for their Credible Fear Interviews, and finally, to the wall as the behemoth imposition that runs along America’s southernmost border.

Featured Guest: Alejandra Oliva, Essayist, Embroiderer, and Author of Rivermouth

News Nerd: Rob Taylor, EIG Partner

Host: Lauren Clarke, EIG Senior Attorney, and Immigration Nerds host

APAC Opportunities for Highly Skilled Migrants with EIG's Singapore and Australia Experts

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0400

This week, the Immigration Nerds features a conversation between Lauren Clarke, senior attorney at Erickson Immigration Group, and EIG Senior Manager Martin Russell in Australia and Immigration Manager, Erdiana Kamarudin, in Singapore. The team explores how new workforce planning and hiring policies in the APAC region are creating opportunities for highly skilled migrants.

Featured Guest: EIG Senior Manager, Martin Russell, in Australia; and Immigration Manager, Erdiana Kamarudin, in Singapore

News Nerd: Rob Taylor, EIG Partner

Host: Lauren Clarke, EIG Senior Attorney and Immigration Nerds host

Title 42, the Future of Asylum, the latest Immigration News with David J. Bier of the Cato Institute

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 08:00:00 -0400

Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke, a senior attorney at Erickson Immigration Group, helps us understand the facts and context of the soon-expiring Title 42 policy created decades ago to address public health and social welfare but most recently used during the pandemic to regulate the border. Our guest, David J. Bier, Associate Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute, joins us to talk about the border policies in place before Title 42, the programs that have been introduced since, and what we can expect still.

Featured Guest: David J. Bier, Associate Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute

News Nerd: Rob Taylor, EIG Partner

Host: Lauren Clarke, EIG Senior Attorney and Immigration Nerds host

Uniting for Ukraine with Ilya Somin, George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School Professor

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0400

The podcast from the smartest nerds in the know on immigration is back! The Immigration Nerds Podcast has relaunched with show host Lauren Clarke—a senior attorney at Erickson Immigration Group, an immigrant, and the kind of nerd who makes the details easier to understand. Are you interested in the American response to the refugee crisis in Ukraine? Hear what’s working and what’s not in the U.S. State Department program designed to welcome Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion, Uniting for Ukraine. Lauren’s guest is George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School Law Professor Ilya Somin, a sponsor to a Ukrainian refugee family.

Featured Guest: Ilya Somin, Professor of Law at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School

News Nerd: Rob Taylor, EIG Partner

Host: Lauren Clarke, EIG Senior Attorney and Immigration Nerds host

Celebrating the Growth of the 'Immigration Nerds' Podcast

Thu, 12 May 2022 14:22:00 -0400

This week's Immigration Nerds episode is a special one as we celebrate the growth of our podcast to become a must-listen in our industry and a top-rated immigration podcast.

But how did we get here? In early 2018, Hiba Anver, now an EIG partner, and host/producer Ian Gaines, then an immigration paralegal, imagined a podcast that would shine a spotlight on all types of immigration and give a microphone to diverse storytellers. This week, Hiba and Ian reflect on the making of the podcast and the past four years of guests, issues, and the impact of this flagship podcast from Erickson Immigration Group.

And, a note from our producer, Ian Gaines: "This is a journey that I’m personally proud to have embarked upon and watched grow. After this episode, I will pass the microphone of this podcast, that you have all come to enjoy and gain insight from over the years. Thank you all for your support over these past years; I am truly grateful."

Top Covid Resilient Countries to Travel to This Summer

Fri, 06 May 2022 15:42:00 -0400

As the summer approaches many countries across the board are opening up to accommodate the expected influx of tourism as the weather gets warmer. And with that in mind, Bloomberg created a ranking system called the covid resilience index to help guide you along the way. The system aggregates each country’s lockdown severity, vaccinated travel routes, flight capacity, vaccine doses per 100 people, reopening progress, and quality life index (which takes in universal health care coverage and human development ratings). This episode will cover the top 10 countries which we hope can be a cheat sheet of what is required when entering a foreign country, as you decide your summer plans with the family.

Aaron Karnell | Title 42 : Border security, public opinion, and public health consistency

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 14:39:00 -0400

On May 23, 2022, the controversial Trump administration policy known as Title 42 is scheduled to officially end. The end of Title 42 follows the CDC announcement that the policy measure is no longer necessary based on current COVID-19 public health conditions.

In this week's Immigration Nerds podcast, we talk to Aaron Karnell, Erickson Immigration Group Senior Attorney, Government Affairs, about the forthcoming policy change, bipartisan concerns about border security, and immigration policy at the US Southern Border without Title 42.

Elizabeth Schmelzel | Women in Law : Finding Purpose

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 08:53:00 -0400

Cair Coalition's Senior Attorney Elizabeth Schmelzel joins EIG 's Partner Hiba Anver.

They discuss:

How international travel expanded her notions of hard work, survival, and compassion experienced worldwide
Working in a career that allows you to live out your values
The empathy needed to represent clients in immigration detention, and tend to their needs
Wrestling notions of gender dynamics in work, life, and how to balance a career with family

Lauren Clarke | What To Expect Post H-1B Selection

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 16:19:00 -0400

Erickson Immigration Group's Senior Attorney Lauren Clarke joins this week. We walk through the H-1B post-selection process, what to expect, how to prepare, and provide the information necessary to be successful after receiving a determination. A quick guide to help applicants navigate their way through each round.

Sarah Paoletti | Champion of Human Rights and Immigrant Justice

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 09:13:00 -0400

Sarah Paoletti is a Practice Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she founded and directs the Transnational Legal Clinic. Prof. Paoletti is a founding member of the Board of Directors of Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc., a binational migrant worker rights organization with offices in the U.S. and Mexico, and she serves on the Executive Committee of Migration that Works. Co-host and EIG's Legal Writer Kahn Branch joins.

We discuss:

Michael Jin | Japanese American Migration: Identity, Loyalty, and Nationalism during Wartime

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 14:55:00 -0400

University of Illinois-Chicago History Professor and Author Michael R. Jin joins the podcast. His latest book Citizens, Immigrants, and the Stateless: A Japanese American Diaspora in the Pacific captures the lives of more than 50,000 U.S.- born Japanese American Migrants across the U.S. and Japanese colonial borders pre and post-WWII.

Actions taken to combat anti-Japanese sentiment throughout wartime
Opportunities and obstacles presented by two influential and contrasting powers
How artists, creatives, and intellectuals help reconcile notions of transpacific identity and loyalty

Aaron Karnell | War in Ukraine and Refugees: The State Department’s Role

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 13:44:00 -0400

Today we discuss the State Department's role during a war crisis and the resulting visa implications that follow.

US Embassy's role in facilitating humanitarian parole to Ukrainian refugees
Nonimmigrant visa implications
How USRAP handles refugees
State Department role in managing surge capacity

Erickson Immigration Groups' Senior Attorney, Consular Affairs Aaron Karnell joins Lead Researcher and Host Luke Bianco.

Krish O'Mara Vignarajah | Assisting Refugees During A Crisis

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 08:47:00 -0400

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a non-profit organization that welcomes and supports refugees and migrants entering the United States. It is one of nine refugee resettlement agencies working with the Office of Refugee Resettlement [2] and one of only two that serves unaccompanied refugee minors.

With more than 1 million refugees fleeing Ukrainian borders today, President and CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah shares her organization's resettlement initiatives, assistance programs, and how everyday citizens can help during these trying times.

Kahn Branch | Black History Month: Exporting Black Expression Abroad

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 15:01:00 -0400

Kahn Branch is a Corporate Immigration Legal writer for Erickson Immigration Group. This year we wanted to take an outward-facing scope during black history month, in particular examining the exportation of the Black experience abroad. We take a look at a few notable figures in American history, who used the challenging conditions of their homeland as a creative force to bring insight to the world outside their borders.

Doris Meissner | Biden's Year in Review: Immigration Record Assessment

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 12:36:00 -0400

Doris Meissner is the former Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) under President Bill Clinton, heading the program from 1993 to 2000. And now the Senior Fellow and Director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute.

We discuss:

Immigration's social and structural changes over the last 30 years
Biden's first year: Immigration record
Build Back Better

Masha Rumer | Parenting with an Accent

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 12:40:00 -0400

Today we are joined by Masha Rumer, Author of the new book “Parenting with an Accent”. This book encapsulates many things, it's part memoir, part interview series, and part academic research highlighting the findings from social science and migration experts. Masha explores how immigrants honor their heritage, navigate setbacks and chart new paths for their children.

Evan Taparata | Refugee Policy Pre and Post WWII

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 15:41:00 -0400

Evan Taparata is a postdoctoral fellow at the Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History at Harvard University. Evan is currently authoring his latest book “State of Refuge: The Origins of Refugee Law and Policy in the United States”. In this edition, he explores the origins of American refugee law in the years after World War II and how immigration policy in the past and present has centered around the interests of the U.S. settler state. So today we discuss its historical implications, and how sentiments around settlement have developed throughout the 20th century.

Thank You Jerry Erickson

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 15:02:00 -0400

Thank you Jerry for the opportunities you provided all of us, the joy and leadership you brought to the company. We will carry on the legacy you worked so hard to build.

You will be truly missed.

Martin Russell | Novak Djokovic Australian Covid Saga

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 11:26:00 -0400

Welcome to Immigration Nerds, this week's episode centers around the rapidly evolving visa saga between Tennis star Novak Djokovic and Australia, in advance of the Australian Open.

This episode was recorded on Wednesday, January 12th, and since then, the decision has been made to cancel Djokovic’s visa for a second time for entering the country without obtaining a valid covid-19 vaccine exemption. Djokovic will be detained before his case to stay in Australia is heard by the higher Federal Court of Australia. But how we got here is perhaps even more interesting and complex. In our conversation, we walk through the visa timeline up until this very point, focusing deeper into the intersection of where immigration meets, geopolitics, and culture, and talk through what people who plan to travel to Australia in the near future should consider.

EIG's Lead Researcher Luke Bianco hosts today's episode along with Senior Manager - Australia, Martin Russell.

Bilal Zouheir | Immigrant Led Stories in Film: An Expert's Guide

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 14:39:00 -0400

Happy New Year, we're kicking off the year with a light conversation. Namely Immigrant led stories in film, and where we can find them. Luckily, Bilal Zouheir joins to navigate us through that journey. Bilal holds an MBA and started his business as a film curator, founding uprootedmovies.com, the internet's first immigrant cinema website.

He also runs agoodmovietowatch.com, a film recommendation site trusted by 6 million readers every year. Originally from Morocco, now currently living in Berlin, Germany, Bilal discusses what we can learn from immigrant-focused films (what does it look like when it's done correctly, incorrectly, etc.) and lends a few recommendations for you to check out while you stay warm this winter.

(Revisited) Nils Kinuani | Build Back Better - Immigration Reform (12/10/21)

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 08:45:00 -0400

As the Build Back Better Act approaches its deadline, we like to recap its status till now, with a previous episode from our catalog, to refresh what's at stake. Enjoy this previous recording. We'll be back after the holidays.

Today we examine the Biden administration's Build Back Better Act, $100 billion dollars of which is sought to be allocated to immigration reform. Please note that this act has already passed the House but at the time of this recording on 12/10/21 it has not yet passed the Senate and is not officially enacted. We’ll walk through the key immigration initiatives being proposed, how they will affect clients, and where negotiations stand today on capitol hill. To help me through the political ins and outs, Erickson Immigration Group's Legal and Government Affairs Manager, Nils Kinuani joins.

Kent Weber | Chinese Exclusion and U.S. Empire in Cuba and Hawaiʻi

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 17:12:00 -0400

After our Build Back Better episode, we find it important to reflect back to our history of US immigration and how it affects sentiments on migration today. Namely, examining historically overlooked regions such as Hawaii and Cuba, the precedents established, and how we can move forward today. Visiting Assistant Professor of History & Race and Ethnic Studies at St. Olaf College, Kent Weber joins

Kent's research explores how systems of U.S. immigration control and overseas expansion have informed one another in U.S. history. His current book project examines the enforcement of the U.S. Chinese exclusion laws in overseas territories at the turn of the twentieth century.

Nils Kinuani | Build Back Better - Immigration Reform (12/10/21)

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 15:08:00 -0400

Sarah Amendola | USCIS Automatic Work Authorizations Policy Change

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 09:41:00 -0400

On November 10, 2021, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security entered into a settlement with plaintiffs, significantly changing USCIS policy regarding work authorization for qualified H-4 and L-2 status holders. On November 12, 2021, USCIS updated its Policy Manual to reflect these changes. USCIS and CBP are working to reflect these changes on Form I-94 so as to distinguish E and L dependent spouses from E and L dependent children. When the new code and notation are implemented, Forms I-94 for E or L dependent spouses may constitute as evidence of employment authorization.

Erickson Immigration Group's Associate Attorney, Sarah Amendola joins today to explain these changes.

Rose Cahn | Immigrant Post-Conviction Relief Project

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 11:54:00 -0400

Joining today is Senior Staff Attorney for Immigrant legal Resource Center, Rose Cahn.

Rose oversees the resource center’s pro bono Immigrant Post-Conviction Relief Project, coauthors many manuals at the cusp of criminal and immigration law, and was instrumental in drafting California Penal Code § 1473.7, a landmark piece of legislation that created a legal framework to vacate unconstitutional convictions.

We discuss:

Running “Immigrant Post-Conviction Relief Project”
How industry leaders can better serve the rights of immigrants with criminal convictions (From a local/national policy level)
The drafting process and the resulting outcome of California Penal Code § 1473.7: Providing a legal framework to vacate unconstitutional convictions.

Maunica Sthanki | Women in Law

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 08:58:00 -0400

This September Erickson Immigration Group hosted their Women in Law event, which highlights the contributions and stories of pivotal women who work in immigration law. This event was led by EIG’s Erickson Immigration Group’s Partner, Hiba Anver. In this conversation, Policy and Advocacy Strategist, Maunica Sthanki joins Hiba to share her story.

The two address navigating the legal industry as a woman of color, and the methods used to advance in a career when faced with challenges:

How Maunicas father arriving in the US as a refugee has shaped her view and empathy towards what immigration can bring
The insights she gained working on the Subcommittee of Immigration and Border Security during the Trump Administration.
In conclusion, what lessons she passes down to young women aspiring to become lawyers

Dr. Parag Khanna | A Data-Driven Prediction of the Migration and Social Trends Tomorrow

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 16:36:00 -0400

Global Strategy Advisor and best-selling author Dr. Parag Khanna joins Immigration Nerds. Dr. Parag is the Founder & Managing Partner of FutureMap, a data and scenario-based strategic advisory firm, a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, and Author of the latest book titled “MOVE: The Forces Uprooting Us” (2021).

FutureMap has developed a comprehensive data forecasting suite to identify the locations with the highest likelihood of land value appreciation. ClimateAlpha.ai provides investors, property developers, and state and municipal authorities guidance on where to build for the population of tomorrow.

Our discussion centers around using a data-driven lens to predict migration and social trends in the near future.

Ari Shaw Ingrid Eagly | LGBT ASYLUM Cases in the US and Recommendations for Better Tracking

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:03:00 -0400

Today, Ari Shaw Director of International Programs at the Williams Institute, and Ingrid Eagly Law Professor at UCLA joins Immigration Nerds.

The Williams Institute conducts independent research on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy.

In March earlier this year, the team completed a comprehensive research paper titled LGBT ASYLUM Cases in the US. Where they tracked the data of LGBTQ-related asylum cases, the types of persecutions experienced worldwide through fear interviews, and provide recommendations to improve our policy and asylum tracking systems.

Links:

https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/lgbt-asylum-claims/

https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/measuring-absentia-removal-immigration-court

Stuart Anderson | H-1B Visas Are Scarce As Computer Job Vacancies Reach 1.2 Million

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 13:38:00 -0400

Erickson Immigration Group’s Partner Justin Parsons and Lead Researcher Luke Bianco welcome guest Executive Director of National Foundation for American Policy, Stuart Anderson. They discuss the context surrounding Stuart’s latest Forbes article titled “H-1B Visas Are Scarce As Computer Job Vacancies Reach 1.2 Million”. They address:

The recent growth trends in the Technology/Computer sector, and how H-1B can capitalize
Combating the false narratives that high-skill immigration means fewer opportunities for US workers
In conclusion, what will the employment landscape look like in a future when policy changes reflect our new normal

Kyle Romero | America's History and Approach to Refugee Resettlement

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 16:00:00 -0400

E. Kyle Romero is a visiting professor of history at Loyola University Maryland. He teaches U.S. foreign policy, immigration and global migration, and the history of humanitarianism and human rights. He is currently working on his first book, titled, “Moving People: Refugee Politics, Foreign Aid, and the Emergence of American Humanitarianism”.

This Week in Immigration | Haiti, Senate Parliamentary, Travel Restrictions Lifted for the Vaccinated

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 13:34:00 -0400

This week was dominated by a flurry of headlines, centered around the creation of new standards, unfulfilled promises in policy, and how recent government actions may or may not align with its prior declared commitments.

Three stories this week predominately enveloped our timelines.

The senate parliamentary issues guidance against Biden’s proposed immigration measures in the upcoming budget bill
The treatment of Haitian migrants crossing US border seeking refuge in Del Rio Texas, and the shocking footage of apprehension techniques by the CBP
And lastly, President Biden officially lifting travel restrictions for foreign nationals who are fully vaccinated, and the implications for those who are not

Policy and Advocacy Strategist, Maunica Sthanki was gracious enough to stop by to provide greater context surrounding this proposal as well as Lead Researcher Luke Bianco.

Vivian Zavataro | En Medio: An Artistic Exhibit of the Immigration Experience

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 15:29:00 -0400

Vivian Zavataro is the Director of the John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art at the University of Nevada. She specializes in contemporary art and mediation, traveling the world working on installations, museums, and galleries that teach onlookers the value of Diversity, inclusion, and creativity in the work she presents. Joined by Lead Researcher, Luke Bianco.

We discuss:

How the En Medio exhibit came to be, an installation that focuses on the travels to the US-Mexico border expressed through music, photography, painting, video, and performance art
A discussion of some of the noteworthy pieces/artists featured within the exhibit
Ways we can engage with immigration art and expression

Shikha Dalmia | How Immigration Can Solve U.S. Slowing Birthrates and Declining Workforce

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 17:32:00 -0400

Shikha Dalmia is a Fellow with the Mercatus Center’s Program on Pluralism and Civil Exchange. She's a former Senior Analyst at Reason Foundation and writing columnist for The Week, and writing contributor for the Reason Magazine, Bloomberg view USA Today, and The New York Times.

We discuss:

Her professional background as it relates to immigration and populist authoritarianism
A portrait of the state of demographic decline in the United States, and how immigration can solve it
Immigration policies undertaken by Canada, and the U.S. can emulate

Jennifer Chacon | Our History of Policing Migration Through the Criminal Justice System

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 14:32:00 -0400

UC Berkeley School of Law professor Jennifer Chacon joins Immigration Nerds. Her area of research focuses primarily on immigration, constitutional law, and criminal law and procedure.

Note: Unfortunately there are moments of audio crackling during the interview that was not detected at the moment of recording. We find the content still very valuable however we apologies for any listening inconvenience.

We discuss:

The legislative history of policing immigrants through the criminal justice system
A more humane alternative to manage migration
Confronting explicit bias in the legal system
Ways to provide adequate deterrents to unlawful immigration policing practices.

Theresa Brown | A Bi-Partisan Approach to Immigration Policy

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 10:44:00 -0400

Managing Director of Immigration and Cross-Border Policy at Bipartisan Policy Center, Theresa Cardinal Brown joins.

We discuss:

How migration patterns changed as countries open up
Biden Administration policy proposal: Addressing a new blueprint to address root causes of Central American migration
Current events: The immigration effects of Troops being pulled out of Afghanistan, how SIV backlogs threaten our allies safety

Main webpage: www.bipartisanpolicy.org/immigration

This Week in Immigration Episode 100: Episode

100: This Week in Immigration | Bipartisan Policy Center

Redefining Border Security: Redefining

Border Security | Bipartisan Policy Center

Root Causes work: Policy

Proposals to Address the Central American Migration Challenge | Bipartisan

Policy Center

This Week in Immigration Interview with Steve Miska on

Afghanistan: Episode

95: This Week in Immigration | Bipartisan Policy Center

REVISTED: Noah Coburn - Special Immigrants Visa Program and Challenges in the Middle East

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 13:57:00 -0400

Due to recent events in Afghanistan, this episode is a timely one to revisit. Released June 24th, 2021.

Noah Coburn is an Anthropologist Professor at Bennington College and author of “Bazaar Politics: Power and Pottery in an Afghan Market Town”. He focuses on political structures and violence in the Middle East and Central Asia.

We discuss:

o His background and how he first became interested in political structures and violence in the Middle East and Central Asia

o The history and current state of the Special Immigrant Visa, and how it pertains to Afghanistan

o How the U.S. troop withdrawal will impact immigration from Afghanistan and the SIV

o Policy proposals and improvements to this system

REVISITED: Ira Kurzban | An Unlikely Path to Creating THE "Sourcebook"

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 10:02:00 -0400

Since the release of the first edition in 1990, Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook has been the go-to legal reference on U.S. immigration law. It cuts out lengthy explanations to provide busy legal professionals with what they need and want—a comprehensive, authoritative, and concise analysis of a complicated area of law.

The author of that book, Ira Kurzban, joins to share his immigration career.

Erickson Immigration Groups Managing Director Hiba Anver joins.

Bob Leonard | Why Rural America Needs Immigrants

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 16:15:00 -0400

Former University of Mexico Anthropology professor, New York Times contributor, and author of the “Deep Midwest” Bob Leonard joins.

We discuss:

Rural America economic growth problem
The career opportunity for immigrants
Skills needed
Bridging social and cultural differences

PETER SCHECHTER/TÉA IVANOVIC | Immigrant Food : The Meaning of Cause-Casual Restaurants

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 17:00:00 -0400

We have one of the most innovative and civic-minded foodies in DC Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Immigrant Food, PETER SCHECHTER, and TÉA IVANOVIC.

We discuss:

D.C.’s first cause-casual restaurant
Immigration lectures and classes held at the restaurant
How working on former political campaigns and launching non-profits informed their community-led spirit to combine advocacy with food
How lockdowns affected business

Ahilan T. Arulanantham | From ACLU to UCLA : A Human Right's Change Agent

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 13:16:00 -0400

Ahilan T. Arulanantham joins Immigration Nerds. Ahilan is a Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law and former Senior Counsel at the ACLU in Los Angeles.

Co-hosted by Lead Researcher, Luke Bianco.

We discuss:

TPS litigation and Supreme Court arguments
Nadarajah v. Gonzales, the first Ninth Circuit case establishing limits on the government’s power to detain immigrants as national security threats
Ahilan’s leadership in defense of immigrant rights at the ACLU during the previous administration
Advice for young lawyers/law students who want to make a positive impact in the field

Elaine Kamarck | Likelihood of Comprehensive Immigration Reform During Biden Administration

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 14:39:00 -0400

Can Biden pass immigration reform? History says it will be tough

Brookings Institution Director of the Center for Effective Public Management Elaine C. Kamarck joins the podcast. She is an expert on American electoral politics, government innovation, and reform in the United States, focusing her research on the presidential nomination system and American politics.

We discuss:

Why comprehensive immigration reform is so hard to pass
Reasons why it failed in both 2007 and 2013
Likelihood of it being passed during this administration

Zara Najam, Rizwana Quazi | Right to Work, Settled Status and Brexit Analysis

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 15:30:00 -0400

Erickson Immigration Group's Senior Attorney Zara Najam, and Kingsley Napley's Associate Attorney Rizwana Quazi join.

We discuss:

Lockdown in the UK
Its effects on Business travel now and in the future post-Brexit July 1st transition
Right-to-work changes for UK employers.
Settled Status options for employers/employees

Noah Coburn - Special Immigrants Visa Program and Challenges in the Middle East

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 17:09:00 -0400

We discuss:

o His background and how he first became interested in political structures and violence in the Middle East and Central Asia

o The history and current state of the Special Immigrant Visa, and how it pertains to Afghanistan

o How the U.S. troop withdrawal will impact immigration from Afghanistan and the SIV

o Policy proposals and improvements to this system

Pooja Vora | Immigrants in Healthcare : The Industry After Reopening

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 18:05:00 -0400

Pooja Vora recently graduated with a Masters in Public Policy from Georgetown University, McCourt School of Public Policy where she pursued her interests in immigration, education, housing, and racial equity issues. Pooja is a founding member and past president of the McCourt Migration and Refugee Policy Initiative whose mission centers around highlighting and promoting evidence-based migration issues.

We discuss:

The current healthcare shortages impacting the U.S. and how immigrants/refugees provide both short and long term solutions
How COVID-19 exposed systematic vulnerabilities within visa policies, and what challenges still face the industry after reopening
Immigration policies that would relieve shortage pressures and reduce processing times of qualified healthcare workers in underserved areas where they are most needed

Linkedin: Pooja

Vora | LinkedIn

Article Links: Georgetown

Public Policy Review / Harnessing Immigrant and Refugee Healthcare Workers to

Fight COVID: Immediate Answers - Georgetown Public Policy Review

(gppreview.com)

Georgetown

Public Policy Review / Harnessing Immigrant and Refugee Healthcare Workers to

Fight COVID: The Longer Arc - Georgetown Public Policy Review (gppreview.com)

Chef Byron Gomez | From Costa Rica to "Top Chef": A DREAMERS story

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 12:53:00 -0400

Born in Costa Rica, Chef Byron Gomez migrated to the United States when he was 8 years old. His interest in culinary arts started at a young age and after several years cooking on Long Island, he set his sights on New York City. With a mission to learn from some of the country’s best, he honed his skills under culinary luminaries like Daniel Boulud, Ronny Emborg, Gavin Kaysen, and Daniel Humm.

While working at Eleven Madison Park, named the World’s Best Restaurant in 2017, Chef Byron traveled with the restaurant’s pop up experiences to the Hamptons and Aspen. After spending the winter in the Rocky Mountains resort town, he decided to plant roots and joined the team at 7908 Aspen in 2019. There, his refined, globally-inspired menu is paired with a world-class wine and bar program. Chef Byron will be featured on Season 18 of Bravo’s Top Chef. On his days off you can find him enjoying all the outdoor adventure sports, ranging from road biking to snowboarding, that colorful Colorado has to offer.

Social Media:

Chef Byron Instagram: @chefbyrongomez

7908 Aspen Instagram: @7908aspen

Alessandra La Vaccara - The Missing Migrants Project

Thu, 27 May 2021 14:24:00 -0400

Alessandra La Vaccara , Program Manager of the Missing Migrants Project from ICMP joins the podcast.

Dr. La Vaccara has been working on missing persons-related issues since 2012. Prior to joining ICMP, she worked for the ICRC, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the European Commission, and the Italian Senate. Dr. La Vaccara has also pursued research activities on missing persons with the Harvard Law School as Albert Gallatin Fellow and with the Cardozo Law Institute in Holocaust and Human Rights as visiting research scholar.

Steve Yale-Loehr | 35 Years in Immigration Law

Fri, 21 May 2021 11:44:00 -0400

Steve Yale-Loehr has practiced immigration law for over 35 years. He is co-author of Immigration Law and Procedure, the leading 21-volume treatise on U.S. immigration law. He also teaches immigration and asylum law at Cornell Law School as a Professor of Immigration Practice and is of counsel at Miller Mayer in Ithaca, New York. He also founded and was the original executive director of Invest In the USA, a trade association of EB-5 immigrant investor regional centers.

Charles Wheeler | Child Status Protection Act EXPLAINED

Thu, 13 May 2021 15:29:00 -0400

Charles Wheeler is Director of Training and Legal Support for Catholic Legal Immigration Network and Author of the most seminal books addressing the inner workings and legal nuances surrounding CSPA, “AILA's Focus on the Child Status Protection Act".

We discuss the major provisional changes he witnessed over the years covering CSPA.

Javier Miranda | Immigration and Entrepreneurship in the United States

Thu, 06 May 2021 15:43:00 -0400

Javier Miranda, Co-author of the National Bureau of Economic Research's paper "Immigration and Entrepreneurship in the United States" joins Immigration Nerds.

Co-authors: Pierre Azoulay, Benjamin Jones, J. Daniel Kim

Immigration can expand labor supply and create greater competition for native-born workers. But immigrants may also start new firms, expanding labor demand. His paper uses U.S. administrative data and other data resources to study the role of immigrants in entrepreneurship. We ask how often immigrants start companies, how many jobs these firms create, and how these firms compare with those founded by U.S.-born individuals. A simple model provides a measurement framework for addressing the dual roles of immigrants as founders and workers. The findings suggest that immigrants act more as "job creators" than "job takers" and that non-U.S. born founders play outsized roles in U.S. high-growth entrepreneurship.

Ira Kurzban | An Unlikely Path to Creating THE "Sourcebook"

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 17:00:00 -0400

Since the release of the first edition in 1990, Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook has been the go-to legal reference on U.S. immigration law. It cuts out lengthy explanations to provide busy legal professionals with what they need and want—comprehensive, authoritative, and concise analysis of a complicated area of law.

The author of that book, Ira Kurzban, joins to share his immigration career.

Erickson Immigration Groups Managing Director Hiba Anver joins.

Jeanne Batalova and Kate Hooper | COVID-19 and the State of Global Mobility in 2020

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 11:48:00 -0400

The year 2020 marked a sudden break in mobility across international borders. The COVID-19 pandemic decimated tourism and business travel; cut the lion’s share of seasonal and temporary labor migration; temporarily ground refugee resettlement efforts to a halt; and held up the processing of visas of all kinds, from those for international students to family reunification. Yet even as the overall picture of human mobility in 2020 is of movement dramatically curtailed, the details of this picture varied over the course of the year and across regions.

Joining to share the data behind this shift is Migration Policy Institute's Senior Policy Analyst Jeanne Batalova and Policy Analyst Kate Hooper, with help from EIG's Lead Researcher Luke Bianco.

Ron Wada | Author of EB2 & EB3 Degree Equivalency Tells His Story

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 15:57:00 -0400

Ron Wada is Senior Counsel for TafaPolsky & Smith LLP and is a nationally recognized expert in US immigration law. He is the co-editor of the leading national immigration law treatise Immigration Law and Procedure and is the author of AILA’s Focus on EB2 & EB3 Degree Equivalency, a standard desk-top reference book for immigration attorneys nationwide.

He explains the journey to writing one of the most referenced immigration books in circulation today.

Megan Essaheb | AAJC : Asian American Congressional Advocacy and #StopAsianHate Campaign

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 17:00:00 -0400

Director of Immigration Advocacy at Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Megan Horn Essaheb joins.

We discuss:

Reuniting Families Act provisions and how others can help.
#StopAsianHate campaign and recent events in Atlanta. Covid-19’s role in the rise of hostility towards Asian Americans and how AAJC is countering the surge in discrimination/xenophobia.

Jon Wasden | USCIS Reopen H-1B Petitions and Litigating Trump-Era Policies

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 17:00:00 -0400

On March 12th, USCIS announced it would consider reopening select nonimmigrant petitions that were previously denied based upon three rescinded policy memos.

Jon Wasden Partner at Wasden Banias LLC discusses how his team litigated the memos that were later rescinded by USCIS on March 12th, and shares his experience with taking Trump-era policies to task in court.

Jon Baselice | U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Policy Outlook on Capitol Hill

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 15:38:00 -0400

Today we have a special guest, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director of Immigration Policy, Jon Baselice.

We explore key legislative and regulatory policies the chamber is advocating for in immigration, and how immigration law firms can help assist. We address the current status, future outlook, and any challenges found along the way.

This Week in Immigration: Proclamation 10014 Revoked and 2008 Naturalization Test

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 17:18:00 -0400

Today is a short recap of immigration news from the past week. Namely the suspension of Proclamation 10014, and who that will affect, and also address the reasons why the administration has reverted the naturalization test back to its 2008 standard and what that means for you.

Robinson Woodward-Burns | How African Americans Turned "The American Dream" Into a Reality For All Americans

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 09:45:00 -0400

-Re-release from February 2019-

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness….”

These words reach ears with an aura of romanticism; they appeal to the highest aspirations within us all and they entice millions to come and maximize their abilities in this great nation. As Black History Month comes to an end, we welcome Howard University political science professor Robinson Woodward-Burns and we discuss the role African Americans had in turning those words from a theoretical promise into a tangible reality for all by becoming citizens of the United States.

For more, follow Robinson on-

Twitter: @rwbdc

Website: woodwardburns.com

H-1B Cap | Travel Recommendations, Alternative Options and FAQ's

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 16:35:00 -0400

H-1B Cap lottery is fast approaching, today we discuss travel recommendations for a covid environment, last chance and alternative options to the Cap, and general FAQ’s for this coming season.

Erickson Immigration Groups, Managing Attorney, Naianka Rigaud joins.

Preparing for H-1b Cap Lottery | Looking Forward

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 17:29:00 -0400

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it would not be applying the H-1B Selection final rule which was introduced on January 7 by the Trump Administration.

This would have changed the current random lottery H-1B selection process to prioritizing high wage-earning and more experienced applicants.

Erickson immigration Groups Managing Director Hiba Anver joins to share how to be best prepared during this lottery season.

Three Immigration Executive Orders Released : Biden Administration

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 17:15:00 -0400

On February 2nd, President Joe Biden signed 3 major executive orders centering around disputed immigration policies from the previous administration.

We walk through each of the order's strategic aims and concerns, members involved, and timelines of execution.

Lizbeth De La Cruz Santana | An Artistic View of Childhood Arrivals

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 17:06:00 -0400

Lizbeth De La Cruz Santana is currently a Ph.D. candidate for the University of California Davis. Her focus is on Spanish, Latin American Literatures, cultures, and human rights. A SCHOLAR | EDUCATOR | PUBLIC SPEAKER | ARTIST.

Her dissertation centers around the lives, challenges, and policy options available to better support childhood arrivals.

Dr. Robert McLeman | How Will International Migration Policy and Sustainable Development Affect Future Climate-Related Migration

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 17:00:00 -0400

Dr. Robert McLeman, Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University joins the podcast.

We discuss.

-Key policy areas being developed to improve sustainability

-Consequences of inaction

-Major challenges that lay ahead

-Impact on migration

Visa Overstay Bond Program : Requesting up to $15,000 From Visitors

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 17:00:00 -0400

On November 23rd, President Donald Trump issued a new temporary rule to pilot a program that would require tourist and business travelers from 24 countries — mostly in Africa — to pay a bond as much as $15,000.

This rule targets nationals from countries who hold high rates of visa overstays, incentivizing them to return home on time, to avoid penalization.

Erickson Immigration group Attorney, Krystal Kirst dissects this ruling, its purpose, and the potential impact it may have on foreign nationals in the coming months.

The Stable Triangle: Driving Employee Experience with Coordinated Immigration, Tax and Relocation

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:05:00 -0400

The following audio is from SHRM GMIS Virtual Symposium held on November 17th.

Featured Guest:

EIG, Managing Attorney, Salman Cheema

Hunton Andrews Kurth, Associate, Liesselot Whitbeck

The two discuss effective global mobility models that integrate immigration, tax and relocation into an efficient system that coordinates the entire process together. They challenge service providers to implement innovative processes to improve employee satisfaction by facilitating a seamless transition.

Potential Presidential Plans: Travel Ban, Public Charge, DACA, H-1B Visa Cap

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 16:17:00 -0400

Today we have Erickson Immigration Group’s Managing Directors Justin Parsons and Hiba Anver. With a new incoming President in January 2021 we discuss what immigration actions President-elect Joe Biden would like to accomplish in the next 4 years and obstacles that lay in the way. particularly: Travel Ban measures, Public Charge, DACA, and increasing H1-B visa cap.

DHS Proposed H-1B Rule Changes: A Shift in Selection Priority

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 15:22:00 -0400

On November 2nd, DHS proposed H-1B rule changes that would eliminate the current random generated selection of H-1B cap registrations and instead replace the selection process with prioritizing higher wage levels first.

Erickson Immigration Group Attorney, Krystal Kirst, joins to talk about this potential policy change and how petitioners will be impacted.

Public Charge Rule Revived...Again

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 16:32:00 -0400

On Monday, November 2nd, Judge Gary Feinerman of the U.S. District Court in Chicago blocked the "public charge" ruling issued by the Department of Homeland Security in 2019. In less than 48 hours, after DHS appealed, it was reinstated through the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and will stand for at least through November 17th.

Here is our short brief

2020 Presidential Election: Immigration Debate and Policy Analysis

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 15:54:00 -0400

November 3rd, election day, draws near.

For today’s purposes, we analyze the immigration components of the last presidential debate, and bring more clarity to each of the candidates positions. Topics discussed:

-Coyotes

-DACA

-Family Separation

-Detention Center Conditions

-Catch and Release/Migrant Caravans

Here is a list of past episodes that bring further clarity to the White House stances on immigration policy:

Economy:

106 Dr. Deborah Watkins Bruner | The Value of International Students on Campus

104 2020 Spring Regulatory Agenda: A Look into the Administrative Tone for the Rest of the Year

30 Ron Hira | Criticism of the H-1B Program: Debate Club

Security:

109 Adam Goodman | The Deportation Machine: America's Long History of Expelling Immigrants

108 The Expansion of Immigrant Data Collection

102 This Week in Immigration: DACA Supreme Court Decision and the Executive Order

79 Natalie Ram | Collecting DNA at the Border: A Thin Line Between Security and Privacy

68 DACA’s Supreme Court Hearing: A Line Between Legality and Agency Discretion

59 Social Media Surveillance: Expansion in Data Collection by Government Agencies

Travel:

78 Travel Ban | The Rationale Behind the Order and Alternative Options for Travelers

77 This Week in Immigration | Public Charge, Birth Tourism and Travel Ban Expansion

Asylum:

96 Erika Cisneros | Humanitarian Visas: The Stories and Options for Victims of Abuse

63 BREAKING | Public Charge Regulation and Federal Court Injunction

24 Claudia Cubas | A Voice for the Voiceless: Driving Asylum Law and Government Shutdown's Effect on Detention Centers

DOL Lawsuits | New H-1B Wage Requirements Meet Heavy Opposition

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 14:27:00 -0400

Today, we synthesize the Purdue Vs. Scalia case, that challenges the new DOL wage requirements and why they should return to it’s previous levels. If you find yourself needing substantive justification in arguing this proposition, this listen can be your quick to the point cheat sheet.

AIRES | Next vs. Normal - HR Transformation & Immigration

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 17:00:00 -0400

AIRES and Erickson Immigration group join to discuss industry disruptions and solutions to HR transformation and Global Mobility practices.

Guest:

Vice President of Organizational Development at AIRES, Rob O'Donnell.

President and CEO of Erickson Immigration Group, Jerry Erickson.

Previously recorded on:

8/19/20

Christine Annand | DOL and DHS New Regulations Target Wage and Degree Requirements

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 17:00:00 -0400

On Tuesday October 6^th, in tandem, the Department of Labor and Department of homeland Security released two major regulations that will overhaul the guest worker program largely targeting wage and degree requirements for specialty occupations.

Patrick Pizzella, the deputy secretary of labor, called the changes announced on Tuesday "long overdue".

"With millions of Americans looking for work as the economy continues its recovery, immediate action is needed to guard against the risk that lower-cost foreign labor can pose to the well-being of U.S. workers."

Erickson Immigration Groups Managing Attorney Christine Annand takes us through how these two new rules are likely to play out for visa petitioners and their company’s.

Hiba Anver | October Visa Bulletin: Significant Changes for Indian and Chinese Nationals

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 16:52:00 -0400

October Visa Bulletin:

Erickson Immigration Group's Managing Director, Hiba Anver joins.

Skilled Indian workers make up roughly 75% of the employment-based green card backlog, a category that only accepts up to 7% of applicants from each country. Today, the number of total green cards issued each year is limited to 140,000. There's currently over 700,000 Indian workers waiting in a line now that is likely to stretch for decades. This discussion addresses how Octobers bulletin may effect this particular cohort, and others like them.

EB-2 India EB-3 India

Sarah-Soonling Blackburn | Reconciling the Model Minority Myth and Pathways to Solidarity

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 22:11:00 -0400

Sarah-Soonling Blackburn is an Educator and a Personal Development Trainer, who received her Doctorate from John Hopkins University . Her area of focus centers around developing strategies to optimize learning environments within classroom culture with an emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusiveness. I came across a few of her writings on the Asian American experience in the classroom and stumbled upon the model minority myth, we discuss this stigma, what it means, how it affects the psychology of Asian Americans and what we can do to further efforts in solidarity with all cultures. I was deeply appreciative of her level of candor and willingness to share this personal and often unspoken about experience.

Covid Then and Now: What to Prioritize in Global Mobility Today

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 17:00:00 -0400

Yasmin Mirreh seemed to be one of the first few practitioners to cover how Covid will affect global travel. We discuss what were the concerns and general landscape at the time of writing her article and how it relates to what companies and employees now should be prioritizing in global mobility today. A snapshot in Covid response, then and now.

Sarah-Soonling Blackburn | Reconciling the Model Minority Myth and Pathways to Solidarity

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 17:00:00 -0400

Mona Johnson | One of A Kind: First Arab-Muslim Woman in the U.S. Armed Forces

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 17:00:00 -0400

Lieutenant Colonel Mona Johnson dreamed of a world where a Muslim woman could be treated as an equal. After escaping a politically divided Egypt, she and her family lived in exile in Saudi Arabia before immigrating to the US in 1960. But assimilating into American culture was far from easy, as she and her family experienced unending discrimination compelling them to change their name in order to blend in with society. Defying years of prejudice and gender inequality, Johnson became most likely the first immigrant Arab-Muslim woman to serve in the US Armed Forces and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Not Created Equal: An Immigrant Muslim Woman's Pursuit of Equality in her Family, the Army and America

https://www.amazon.com/Not-Created-Equal-Immigrant-Equality/dp/1734731702

Adam Goodman | The Deportation Machine: America's Long History of Expelling Immigrants

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 19:25:00 -0400

Author and Assistant Professor at University of Illinois at Chicago, Adam Goodman joins. We discuss “The Deportation Machine: America's Long History with Expelling Immigrants”. Deportation Machine takes an intersectional approach into how authorities have largely used three main mechanisms of expulsion to exert tremendous control over people's lives, determining who can enter the country and regulating who the state allows to remain.

The Expansion of Immigrant Data Collection

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 17:00:00 -0400

Collecting private information from foreign travelers has sizabley increased over the past year. From collecting social media passwords of visa holders to taking DNA samples of travelers at the border.

On July 31st, the U.S. Department of Labor announced it had reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security allowing both agencies to freely share immigrant petition and data records among each other. This latest agreement adds to the growing evidence of privacy erosion. Today we document this occurrence and look at examples of administrative actions from the past year that has brought us to this point.

Jessica Goudeau | After the Last Border : Story of the Unwavering Spirit of Two Refugees

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 17:13:00 -0400

Journalist and Author, Jessica Goudeau joins the podcast.

The welcoming and acceptance of immigrants and refugees has been central to America’s identity for centuries–yet America has periodically turned its back at the times of greatest humanitarian need. After the Last Border is an intimate look at the lives of two women as they struggle for the twenty-first century American dream, having won the “golden ticket” to settle as refugees in Austin, Texas. Beyond policy, beyond politics, what is the lived experiences of the people that are so often debated about. Jessica tells the story of the unwavering spirit of two.

Book: After the Last Border: Two Families and the Story of Refuge in America

Release: August 4, 2020

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/572566/after-the-last-border-by-jessica-goudeau/

Dr. Deborah Watkins Bruner | The Value of International Students on Campus

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 17:00:00 -0400

In last week's episode we didn't get a chance to discuss exactly how international students are driving innovation within the university setting. Today, to give us this inside look from a faculty perspective is Senior Vice President of Research at Emory University, Dr. Deborah Watkins Bruner.

Footnote: This episode was recorded before the settlement agreement. However, we capture great insight into international students ongoing contributions to new discoveries in cancer research and covid-19 vaccines.

University Settlement Reached: Policy Preventing F-1 Student Online Courses Rescinded

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 17:00:00 -0400

In a settlement on Tuesday, July 14th DHS and ICE rescinded the policy barring international students from taking 100% of their courses online, threatening their visa status in America. Managing Director of Erickson Immigration Group, Hiba Anver joins to share the significance of this victory and what may be in store for university students next.

Ranzo: The Black Experience in Asia

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 17:08:00 -0400

Ranzo D, the Creator of "The Black Experience in Japan" joins the podcast. He travels throughout predominately Asian countries and interviews Black immigrants on their experience. A narrative not globally covered, yet is rich in insight. Ranzo shares his personal journey, why he decided to create his platform, and what he has learned from his unique interactions with Black immigrants throughout the eastern world.

Usha Tummala-Narra | Treating Culturally Imposed Trauma within Immigrant Communities

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 16:59:00 -0400

Usha-Tummala -Narra is the Ph.D. Program Director of Counseling Psychology for Boston College. She’s currently conducting research on mental health and trauma within immigrant communities. We discuss The various effects that can occur when adjusting to a different culture, what mental and emotional cost that may take place, her approach to treatment, and how society and culture can better tend to immigrant needs in order to help smooth their transition to a new country.

William R. Kerr | The Gift of Global Talent

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 16:02:00 -0400

Celebrating our 100th episode!

Thank you to all the listeners and guests throughout the country and across the world who tune in to listen and contribute to the global discussion of immigration today. It has been an honor for me to share this space with you.

Harvard Business School Professor William Kerr joins the podcast. Will is a Business Administration Professor whose research focuses on entrepreneurial management, specifically on how companies and economies explore new opportunities to generate growth. Will’s recent book The Gift of Global Talent: How Migration Shapes Business, Economy & Society explores the global race for talent and how countries and businesses compete for high-skilled migrants, and immigration's role in catalyzing U.S. innovation.

Robinson Woodward-Burns | How African Americans Turned "The American Dream" Into a Reality For All Americans

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 17:00:00 -0400

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness….”

These words reach ears with an aura of romanticism; they appeal to the highest aspirations within us all and they entice millions to come and maximize their abilities in this great nation. As Black History Month comes to an end, we welcome Howard University political science professor Robinson Woodward-Burns and we discuss the role African Americans had in turning those words from theoretical promise into a tangible reality for all by becoming citizens of the United States.

For more, follow Robinson on-

Twitter: @rwbdc

Website: woodwardburns.com

Alejandra Zapatero: What Can I Do if I Was Not Selected for the H-1B Lottery?

Thu, 28 May 2020 17:00:00 -0400

Erickson Immigration Group's Director of Client Relations and Managing Attorney Alejandra Zapatero joins. As another CAP season has passed, we discuss the steps individuals can take if they were not selected in this years lottery. We address common concerns and share pathways that you can take in order to maximize your opportunities here in America.

Christopher Casazza | Case Examined: Lack of Medical Care at Detention Centers During Covid-19

Thu, 21 May 2020 11:30:00 -0400

In this week’s Erickson Immigration Group Immigration Nerds podcast we talk to Christopher Casazza.

In late march, Pike County Detention center detainee Aldo Camacho-Lopez began feeling sick and displayed fever like symptoms, however he did not receive any medical care. On April 2, he tested positive for Covid-19. 3 days later, only after contracting pneumonia did he receive treatment at a hospital. During 2020, stories of the lack of appropriate and swift care at detention centers during Covid-19 is beginning to see a trend. Aldo’s attorney Christopher Casazza tells the story of one of those cases, and brings better context to what is happening on a national level.

Dan Lyle | Rugby: How Global Cooperation is Needed to Bring Our Sports Back

Thu, 14 May 2020 17:00:00 -0400

In this week’s Erickson Immigration Group Immigration Nerds podcast, we talked to Dan Lyle, an American former rugby union player and current director of AEG Rugby. We talk about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on international sports, and what a win would look like for teams and their fans in the future.

Erika Cisneros | Humanitarian Visas: The Stories and Options for Victims of Abuse

Thu, 07 May 2020 13:26:00 -0400

Immigration attorney Erika Cisneros joins the podcast.

Immigrating to the US and becoming a legal and permanent resident can be confusing and time consuming. And for victims of mistreatment it can seem like an impossible dream. But there is hope for immigrants—a humanitarian visa. Erika's new book Honest Immigration shares real-life stories of people who didn’t realize their personal and work-related mistreatment met the requirements to get a humanitarian visa.

In this episode we cover:

Steps you can take if you are the victim of a violent crime, sexual abuse, human trafficking, domestic violence, among others.
Know when your immediate family members or children are able to get a humanitarian visa…and when they aren’t.
Why the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Applies to Men and Women and how it can help you with Immigration

Temporary Immigration Suspension Now in Effect: Who's Impacted and for How Long

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 16:23:00 -0400

On Wednesday April 22nd , President Trump signed an executive order proclamation that will temporarily suspend the entry of certain Immigrants into the U.S. This brief short will cover the purpose of the order, who will be impacted and for how long.

BREAKING NEWS: Temporary Immigration Suspension

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 16:10:00 -0400

"In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!" That was tweeted by President Trump, shortly after 10pm Monday, last night.

Amin Hasani | An Immigrant Entrepreneur Executing on his American Dream

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 17:28:00 -0400

Amin Hasani is an NYC based designer and Iranian entrepreneur. Through www.TheCurvd.com and www.Bluehearthero.com his team provides custom prosthetics for the disabled and more recently is producing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for hospitals during Covid-19.

We discuss:

His humble beginnings migrating to America
Becoming an entrepreneur in a new country, highlighting the unique trials and lessons that followed
The principles that drives his need to provide to those in need
How Covid-19 has shaped his business, and fostered new business relationships
The treatment he has received as an Iranian immigrant in America

Chijioke Ikonte | The Role and Challenges of Foreign-born Healthcare Professionals During the Pandemic

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 17:45:00 -0400

Today we discuss the role of foreign-born health care professionals during the pandemic. Joining from Milwaukee, Wisconsin is Chijioke Ikonte, who is a med student at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

We discuss:

The impact of J-1 visas and Conrad Waiver programs for foreign born medical professionals

Operational shifts of Hospitals' and med schools' during covid

Tele-medicine

Health disparities in underserved communities

4th year med students called upon early to fight the outbreak

Kimberly Wong | Covid Diaries: NJ to China, the Everyday Experience of a Shanghai Citizen

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 13:20:00 -0400

Today I interview Kimberly Wong, the Fashion Designer behind the brand Cukimber (Www.cukimber.com). Kimberly originally hails from New Jersey but has resided in Shanghai for the last decade.

Her daily Covid-19 journal installments have captured what everyday life looks like as a Chinese resident since the outbreak. Her on the ground reports have captured many readers and major publications online wanting to know the typical life and experience currently in China. In this episode, I sat with her to discuss the novel journey back to Shanghai during the COVID era.

(Working with Zoom sound quality, apologies for any feedback noticed in episode).

Marcelo Barros and Harsh Sharda | Outlook for F-1 Students in a Covid Era

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 16:50:00 -0400

What does the future look like for international students in an uncertain world?

This Week in Immigration | Policy Updates: DOS, DHS, USCIS, ICE

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:00:00 -0400

Policy updates this week from US immigration services.

Does Covid-19 Factor into a Public Charge Determination? What Factors Will?

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 13:42:00 -0400

USCIS announced that immigrants who undergo medical testing for Covid-19 or receive treatment for it, will not be penalized when applying for green cards and visas under the newly enacted public charge rule.

Richard Christensen, and Krystal Kryst join the podcast.

The Americas and Asia | Global Travel Restrictions

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 11:51:00 -0400

A brief list of the travel restriction status of major countries in the Americas and Asia.

Argentina - 0:55

Brazil - 1:14

Canada - 1:20

Colombia- 1:40

Dominican Republic - 1:55

Ecuador - 2:08

El Salvador - 2:18

Guatemala - 2:27

Mexico - 2:38

Peru - 2:51

Uruguay - 3:01

Venezuela - 3:15

India - 3:24

Myanmar - 3:52

Singapore - 4:28

Thailand - 4:52

Nepal - 5:19

Vietnam - 5:55

Africa, Australia and New Zealand | Global Travel Restrictions

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 11:36:00 -0400

A brief list of the travel restriction status of major countries in Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Kenya - 0:54

Ghana - 1:17

Morocco - 1:29

Namibia - 1:59

South Africa - 2:09

Australia - 2:26

New Zealand - 2:48

Middle East and Europe | Global Travel Restrictions

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 11:30:00 -0400

A brief list of the travel restriction status of major countries in Middle East and Europe.

Israel - 1:06

Jordan - 1:36

Lebanon - 2:08

Saudi Arabia- 2:16

Austria - 2:26

Croatia - 2:41

Czech Republic - 3:11

Denmark - 3:24

High-Risk Areas | Global Travel Restrictions

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 11:15:00 -0400

A brief list of the travel restriction status of major countries.

United States - 0:56

China - 1:15

South Korea - 1:34

Japan - 2:02

France - 2:20

Germany - 2:59

Italy - 3:09

SPECIAL ALERT | Coronavirus: Addressing Employer's Immigration Concerns and Best Recommendations

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 18:46:00 -0400

Today Coronavirus.

We narrow the scope of analysis to its impact on travel restrictions and the resulting effect on immigration processes.

Managing Director at Erickson Immigration Group and Co-Creator of Immigration Nerds Hiba Anver, joins the podcast along with colleague and also Managing Director at Erickson Immigration Group Justin Parsons.

How do "work from home" policies affect H-1B procedures?

What specific visa types will be impacted?

How does corporate compliance fit into the equation?

Cassandra Robertson and Irina Manta | How Easily Can Your Citizenship Be Taken Away?

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 17:00:00 -0400

On Wednesday, February 26, the Justice Department announced the creation of a special Denaturalization Unit tasked with investigating and litigating criminals who have become naturalized citizens.

In this Immigration Nerds podcast, we ask a fundamental question: just how easy can your citizenship be taken away? We explore that answer today.

Irina D. Manta, Professor of Law at Hofstra University and Cassandra B. Robertson, Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve join to share why the government has decided to emphasize these cases.

Cassandra and Irina have collaborated on several scholarly publications on the role that due process plays in cases of denaturalization and the effect on civil liberties.

Kate Rice | An Unlikely Alliance: How the Refugee Crisis Unites Partisan Groups in Conservative America

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 17:00:00 -0400

Author and Refugee Resettlement Coordinator Kate Rice joins the podcast.

Link to Kate's Book: How The Refugee Crisis Unites Americans

We discuss refugee resettlement and the surprising way it unifies the left with the right, the secular with the religious, particularly in the Bible Belt and other red states.

Get Involved Below:

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services https://www.lirs.org/

World Relief https://worldrelief.org/

Church World Service https://cwsglobal.org/

HIAS https://www.hias.org/

US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants https://refugees.org/

International Rescue Committee https://help.rescue.org/.

Episcopal Migration Ministries https://episcopalmigrationministries.org/

UNHCR UN High Commissioner for Refugees https://give.unrefugees.org/

American Business Immigrant Coalition ABIC.US

Maine Business Immigrant Coalition https://mainebic.org/

Texas Business Immigration Coalition https://www.texasbic.biz/

RAICES: The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services

Being able to get a lawyer is makes a huge difference for immigrants (who include refugees) trying to regularize their legal status here:

Here are three groups:

Capital Area Immigrant Rights Coalition https://www.caircoalition.org/

Immigrant Justice Corps: https://justicecorps.org/

Refugee Justice League: https://www.refugeejustice.org

And it's available wherever books are sold as well!

Dr. Erin Sorrell | How Pandemic's Dictate Migration Decisions of Nations

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 17:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we identify the unlikely driving force that helps pull the levers of migration, public health outbreaks. Pandemics, like the novel coronavirus, can initiate and influence the movement of citizens around the world.

To help us navigate the uncertainty, we talk to Dr. Erin Sorrell, a member of the Center for Global Health Science and Security as well as an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Georgetown University.

Natalie Ram | Collecting DNA at the Border: A Thin Line Between Security and Privacy

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 17:00:00 -0400

In January, the government began collecting DNA from detainees at the border to ensure that families are who they say they are, but how may this act of security, result in encroaching upon our private lives.

Helping us this week is Natalie Ram, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Maryland. Natalie is a top scholar on the intersection of genetic privacy and the law, publishing groundbreaking research in Harvard Law Review, Stanford Law, Columbia and many more.

Travel Ban | The Rationale Behind the Order and Alternative Options for Travelers

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 17:00:00 -0400

Erickson Immigration Group Managing Director Hiba Anver helps map out the latest iteration of the Travel Ban, executive order.

This Week in Immigration | Public Charge, Birth Tourism and Travel Ban Expansion

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 17:26:00 -0400

We discuss the latest in immigration news that happened this week including:

Supreme Court's 5-4 decision to lift preliminary injunction on Public Charge ruling
The economy of Birth Tourism, and what the administration plans to do to combat its growth
Travel Ban predictions and the reasoning used to justify its impending expansion

Happy Lunar New Year | Year of the Rat

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 17:00:00 -0400

In honor of Lunar New Year, we are releasing a past episode that dives into the traditions, myths and lore surrounding the holiday.

EIG attorneys Stephanie Tan and Dora Wang join to share their family experiences.

Liberia | A Direct Pathway to Citizenship for United States' Younger Brother

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 17:00:00 -0400

EIG’s Senior Attorney and Liberian Native Jowanda Jones joins the podcast to explain the latest in the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act. She shares how to qualify for the act that now allows a direct pathway to citizenship. In addition, we unravel Liberia's inseparable ties to the United States, revealing just how American Liberians truly are.

Saadia Khan | The "Immigrantly" Experience

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 16:42:00 -0400

Executive producer and Host of "Immigrantly" podcast Saadia Khan joins.

Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that captures the honest and unfiltered accounts of first and second generation immigrants in America. Saadia holds an MBA, and masters in Human Rights. She seeks to mend the current state of polarization and divisiveness among cultural, racial and ethnic lines. Together we discuss the experience of reconciling having a duel identity, the pressures to assimilate, and recognizing how the current political climate has effectively shifted the way people perceive and treat immigrants.

Holiday International Travel Tips: Q and A

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 18:12:00 -0400

As the holiday season nears, EIG wants to ensure that you have the documentation and information you need for international travel. We go over some frequently asked questions with answers to make sure you are well on your way during this busy time.

UPDATE: New Electronic Registration for H-1B Lottery

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 16:38:00 -0400

In today’s brief update, USCIS recently announced the new Electronic Registration requirement for the upcoming H-1b Lottery. EIG’s Managing Director Hiba Anver joins the podcast to share what to expect for this upcoming CAP season.

The Gig Economy: Impact on Immigration

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 17:39:00 -0400

Today’s unprecedented access to a global workforce has increasingly led both companies and employees to opt for temporary projects, often located remotely. Employees enjoy the freedom of having autonomy over the direction of their careers, while employers can now find the exact puzzle piece to solve their company’s problem. In short, the "Gig Economy". Peter C. Evans, Managing Partner for Platform Strategies Institute joins the podcast to share the global trend he has witnessed and what that may mean for the immigrant workforce.

BONUS: Thanksgiving Food Trivia | A Taste of Culture

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 19:54:00 -0400

Thanksgiving Food Trivia List

Play along with us!

Stuffing
Cranberry Sauce
Mac N Cheese
Sweet Potato Pie
Turkey
Green Bean Casserole
Mashed Potatoes
Pumpkin Pie

Origins:

France, America, African-American, Native-American, Mexico, Italian, German, Roman Empire, England

Time:

Since the beginning, 1390, 14th Century, 15th Century, 1651, 1747, 18th Century, 1912, 1955

Josh Doherty | Ayuda: Support for Immigrants in Need

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 17:00:00 -0400

Ayuda is a non-profit service provider that offers immigration and family law assistance, in addition to social and language access support for low-income immigrants in the US. They specialize in services for “Dreamers,” survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, as well as LGBTQ immigrants. Josh shares more about their growing initiatives and the driving motivations behind their mission.

DACA’s Supreme Court Hearing: A Line Between Legality and Agency Discretion

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 18:28:00 -0400

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court held an oral argument to deliberate over the White House’s plan to roll back Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The policy, first implemented by the Obama administration in August 2012, allows undocumented individuals who were brought to the country as children to live and work in the US safe from deportation. DACA, if canceled, would place over 600,000 ‘Dreamers’ in jeopardy.

Erickson Immigration Group’s Legal Writer Kahn Branch attended the court hearing and joins the podcast to highlight the core questions at the center of this case, and what we can expect in DACA’s future.

Laura Young | From Salesforce to Dilley: Volunteering at the Border

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 17:05:00 -0400

Joining us today is Salesforce Director of Global Mobility and Immigration, Laura Young. She oversees all inbound and outbound immigration employment operations for Salesforce. Which includes managing US and Global Immigration as a whole for the company. But today, she sits down with EIG's Justin Parsons and Hiba Anver to speak about what she has seen and learned volunteering at the border in Dilley, Texas.

Who is Boris Johnson? Revisiting the Man at Brexit's Center

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 17:00:00 -0400

The EU Council and UK Government have postponed Brexit's fate until January 31st, 2020.

In lieu of this development, we revisit the past episode with Kahn Branch, to understand the man centered around this story, Boris Johnson.

Administration Implements DNA Collection of Immigrant Detainees

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 16:59:00 -0400

Today we discuss how the government is collecting DNA samples from immigrants migrating to the United States. Sci-Fi film? No. just the latest news.

Makoto Takeda | An Economic Pipeline Between Germany and Japan

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 17:00:00 -0400

Co-Founder of Bistream Makoto Takeda joins the podcast. Bistream orchestrates business partnerships with companies, investors and universities based in Japan and Germany. He explains the mission behind his company and the mutual benefit created between these two global markets.

BREAKING | Public Charge Regulation and Federal Court Injunction

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 17:33:00 -0400

BREAKING NEWS on the latest public charge regulation.

Judge George Daniels of the U.S. District Court in Manhattan issued a preliminary nationwide injunction prohibiting the administration from enforcing the rule a few days before it was slated to take effect on Tuesday.

Erickson Immigration Group's Justin Parson and Hiba Anver weighs in.

Save Jobs USA V. DHS: Does H4 EADs Harm US Workers?

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 17:56:00 -0400

Do H-4EAD holders present harmful competition for U.S. workers. If so, how can that be quantified? Erickson Immigration Groups' Kahn Branch and James Vandenberg, attended Save Jobs USA V. DHS circuit court hearing, to find out. Today they share what they gathered.

Diane Rish | Accessing the Vault: AILA's H-1B FOIA Lawsuit and Resulting Insight

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 18:15:00 -0400

Associate Director of Government Relations at American Immigration Lawyers Association(AILA), Diane Rish, joins Immigration Nerds along with EIG attorney's Hiba Anver and Storm Estep. Through multiple FOIA requests and painstaking litigation, AILA along with American Immigration Council won access to USCIS documents that revealed adjudication practices for H-1b petitions. In simple terms, they received and made public the USCIS playbook. What she learned after gaining access to the vault, is up next.

Sanjay Akut | Advice from a CTO to H-1B's in Tech: Stay Flexible

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 16:54:00 -0400

What technical skills do American companies value among the best and brightest? Which approach should specialists take to stay current and flexible in the industry? We explore this idea by using Erickson Immigration Group as a real-world case study. EIG provides value to clients by remaining nimble when it comes to implementing innovative ideas. To usher us through this conversation we invite EIG’s Chief Technology Officer, Sanjay Akut.

Social Media Surveillance: Expansion in Data Collection by Government Agencies

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 15:30:00 -0400

What is the price of freedom of expression in the land of the free? A US visa, citizenship maybe? Do you consider your online identity and associations as an accurate representation of your true values? And somewhere, the constitution has to fit into this equation. To help work out this math we welcome Erickson Immigration Group attorney Ryan M. Knight.

A Year in Immigration | First Anniversary: Dave Bier, Laura D. Francis, Tom Jawetz, Ian Kullgren, and Claudia Cubas

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 17:22:00 -0400

Today is a special episode — we are celebrating the Immigration Nerds podcast's first anniversary! We started in a tiny room with a few attorneys and a producer, all of us racking our brains to tackle the day. We now have a guest list and audience that is truly worldwide.

We are humbled have the brightest minds in immigration sit down with us, and especially thank Dave Bier, Laura D. Francis, Ian Kullgren, and Claudia Cubas for being our first five guests. You were truly our guinea pigs, and we thank you for trusting in us. Over the next few months,we will release a few bonus episodes titled “A Year in Immigration” highlighting the special guests that have brought context and insight into the immigration issues during 2019.

Greg Chen | USCIS Deferred Action Changes, Subpar Border Conditions and What Agencies Are Doing About It

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 17:27:00 -0400

This week was filled with news of consecutive restrictive measures taken place within immigration. To make sense of the week and to address what is being done about it, we brought in a dedicated advocate within the space, Greg Chen. Greg is the Director of Government Relations for American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). He directs his team in congressional advocacy, legislative reform, and interacting with major government agencies providing services to over 16,000 AILA lawyers to help make sure their cases with families and agencies are handled appropriately.

Hidetaka Hirota | The Origins of Public Charge

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 21:06:52 -0400

The idea of denying outsiders based upon their likelihood of success in America is an enforcement, that predates immigration law itself. It’s the question of, are you likely to be a burden on society or not? In history, the faces and nationalities of who America deemed capable of carrying their weight, has changed throughout time. So today we take a historical approach to the idea and welcome History professor Hidetaka Hirota from Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. We discuss how culture, religion, and race have explicitly been used to determine who would be a drain on society within the eyes of ruling America.

BONUS: Dany Bahar | Venezuelan Mass Migration in Face of Civil Unrest

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 17:17:35 -0400

BONUS EPISODE: 4-6 million Venezuelan’s have fled the country to date, nearly 20% of the entire country's population. Brookings Institution’s Dany Bahar details the surrounding political, social and economic conditions responsible for this mass migration, and what it means for the Venezuelan people, government and neighboring countries.

Dany Bahar | The Economics of Immigration: Innovations Driven by the Immigrant Mind

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 20:59:24 -0400

David M. Rubenstein Fellow, Dany Bahar, from Brookings Institution, joins Immigration Nerds.

How do you quantify the economic value of cultural knowledge? The ability to share one's unique know-how within the marketplace which ultimately leads to new innovations. How would you collect this hand full of intangibles and somehow alchemize it into numbers, graphs, and powerpoints? Dany is tackling just that. Through his studies and research, we discuss the more implicit factors of how migrants contribute to economic growth in a nation.

Who is Boris Johnson? Deal or No Deal

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 21:00:00 -0400

Who is the man now charged with carrying the weight of an entire country, and holding the keys to its destiny. A man of the people? Or a product of the institution? Legal Writer Kahn Branch joins again, giving us an update on Brexits status and what their new prime ministers plans for it.

A Week in Immigration: HR 1044, Trump's Asylum Plan and Congress Hearing on Processing Delays

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 21:00:00 -0400

Storm Estep, Senior Attorney for Erickson immigration group joins the podcast. Over the past several weeks we have been bombarded with Immigration updates and news, and rather than do a separate episode for each topic we decided to condense all into one. We cover HR 1044 and how it will affect application times. Trump’s asylum plan, the latest in the proposed Safe Third Country agreement with Guatemala and Lastly congress’s attempt to tackle processing delays.

Volunteering at the Border: Life and Stories of Unaccompanied Minors

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 20:11:10 -0400

Today we are joined by Taylor Gibson, Law Clerk for Erickson Immigration Group. We discuss her week as a volunteer working with unaccompanied minors at the border. Through her account, we enter the lives and stories of those separated from their families and explore fully the conditions they’re currently living in. Sometimes, to properly appreciate a circumstance, we need someone to take our hand and guide us through reality. Timely and proper insight.

Megan Essaheb | How to Influence Immigration Legislation and Advocacy in Congress

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 21:00:00 -0400

Director of Immigration Advocacy at Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Megan Essaheb, joins the podcast.

We talk about how new immigration policies are introduced and advocated for in Congress. In addition, we touch upon the latest in humanitarian aid at the border and how her organization works to stay at the forefront of influencing immigration legislation.

From grassroots to the Hill AAJC covers the full spectrum.

Marcelo Barros | U.S. Job Seeking Strategies for International Students

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 20:55:03 -0400

Today we are joined by Marcelo Barros, international student career expert, and founder of the International Advantage.

International advantage's mission is to help international students stand out, showcase their strengths, beat visa odds, and secure jobs in the United States. The International Advantage partners with universities to help foreign students capitalize on the unique value they bring to American employers. Harvard, Stanford, NYU, Cornell, Georgetown, Texas A&M, and the University of Pittsburgh are examples of some of the schools The International Advantage partners with.

He joins us today to share a few of these strategies.