This year's Immigration Law and Policy Conference organized by the Migration Policy Institute, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., and the Georgetown University Law Center, will be a hybrid event on September 20, transmitted online for virtual audiences and open to a select number of in-person attendees in Washington, DC. THE PANELS: An Unsettled Landscape: The State of Play for Immigration in an Era of Growing Executive Action and State Involvement
Following an administration that had arguably been the most activist yet on immigration, President Joe Biden has outpaced his predecessor in the issuance of executive actions that touch many corners of the immigration system—from major changes to the processing of border asylum cases and immigration enforcement priorities to more modest efforts, such as adjusting how immigration cases are processed. Yet the Biden agenda on immigration has been stymied by opposition from red-state politicians who have turned to the courts and otherwise asserted a more muscular role, rising encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border that have reduced the political space for other action, and a Congress that continues to remain unable to pass legislation on even modest fixes widely recognized as necessary.
What is the Biden record on immigration? What is the state of play as both political parties near a highly consequential mid-term election? And what challenges lie ahead as growing humanitarian protection needs, continuing pressure at the southwest border, and legal immigration narrowed by processing backlogs add complexity to an already fraught policy arena? A panel of veteran policy and political analysts and a journalist will trade insights during this wide-ranging conversation.
The Court Is Now in Session: The Growing Role of Litigation to Shape Legal and Policy Developments
In a trend that began several administrations ago and has dramatically accelerated, opponents of the administration in power have been heading to court to block immigration policies and rulemaking. During the Biden administration, red state elected officials have turned to the courts to block changes to interior enforcement, the end of the Migrant Protection Protocols, the use of prosecutorial discretion, and more. How are court rulings affecting the Biden agenda, and how is the administration responding? What do recent Supreme Court decisions, including on DACA, suggest for the future? And what have been the impacts and politics of states banding together in litigation against administrations of the opposing party? Beyond turning to the courts, Texas has asserted a muscular role in immigration enforcement, spending billions of dollars on a border operation, busing migrants to Washington, DC and New York, and more. In the continued absence of action by Congress, will more states rush in to fill the power vacuum?
Reshaping the Asylum System at the U.S.-Mexico Border
Providing access to asylum for arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border has long been hampered by a U.S. asylum system in crisis. More complexity was added with the implementation of the pandemic-era Title 42 border expulsions policy that has denied the basic right to apply for asylum for many and litigation around the Migrant Protection Protocols (aka Remain in Mexico) program begun under the Trump administration and continued during the Biden presidency. The Biden administration has advanced and begun implementing a new asylum system that it contends will make the processing of asylum cases fairer and reduce some of the years-long delays that neither serve the interests of humanitarian protection nor effective migration management. How is the final rule that establishes the new system affecting practices at the border and within the executive branch? How are some of the criticisms being addressed? What should a post-Title 42 enforcement regime entail? And what is the status of the MPP program? Join a panel of experts from government, advocacy, and civil society organizations for this conversation.
A Glass Half Full or Half Empty: Humanitarian Protection Developments
U.S. individuals, communities, and organizations have rallied to welcome tens of thousands of Afghans evacuated from Kabul amid a chaotic U.S. withdrawal one year ago and to sponsor more than 100,000 Ukrainians who fled after Russia’s invasion. The displacement crises have led to policy innovations, including community and private sponsorship of Ukrainians. How are these responses to displacement crises different from other humanitarian crises? And what might the implications be for the U.S. system of humanitarian protection going forward, given the ongoing weaknesses of a resettlement system on track to resettle just one-fifth of refugees targeted for resettlement this year? How will refugee policy and integration be affected by the growing use of temporary statuses such as parole (including the resumption of the Cuban and Haitian Family Parole programs) and Temporary Protected Status? The panel of top experts also will examine how the resettlement infrastructure is rebounding from major cuts, and where the continuing gaps and needs in the protection system exist. Registration is $30 for online attendees and $85 for in-person attendees.
In-person attendance tickets are limited due to space constraints.
Proof of Covid vaccination and booster required for in-person attendees. Information on the final agenda and speakers to follow soon. Accredited journalists wishing to register should email [email protected]. Email [email protected] with any questions. | 
