Top Experts on U.S. Immigration Policy Available for Comment on the State of the Union Address
Washington, D.C. -- Immigration is expected to feature prominently in the State of the Union address tonight, as President George W. Bush attempts to return the issue to the center of the domestic policy agenda. The new Democratic leadership in the 110th Congress has also made it clear that immigration is among their top legislative priorities.
The following experts at the Migration Policy Institute, who have been closely involved with Congress and Bush Administration officials as they prepare to debate and implement new legislation, can provide nonpartisan commentary on U.S. immigration reform.
Demetrios G. Papademetriou, President, [email protected]
Dr. Papademetriou advises senior government and political party officials in more than 20 countries. His work concentrates on U.S. immigration policy, the North American borders and migration agenda, European migration, and international migration management. He is the co-convener of the Transatlantic Task Force on Immigration and Integration, a panel of prominent political and business leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to be launched in March 2007.
Doris Meissner, Senior Fellow, [email protected]
Ms. Meissner directs the Independent Task Force on Immigration and America’s Future. The high-level, bipartisan panel’s final report provides a blueprint for immigration reform that makes the United States more competitive in the 21st century. Ms. Meissner served as commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service from 1993 to 2000.
Michael Fix, Vice President and Director of Studies, [email protected]
Mr. Fix co-directs MPI’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, which will launch on February 6, 2007. His work focuses on immigrant integration, citizenship policy, immigrant children and families, the education of immigrant students, the effect of welfare reform on immigrants, and the impact of immigrants on the U.S. labor force. Mr. Fix previously served as a principal research associate at the Urban Institute, where he directed the Immigration Studies Program from 1998 through 2004.
Margie McHugh, Co-Director, National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, [email protected]
Ms. McHugh is co-director of MPI’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, which will provide research, policy design, leadership development, and training on integration issues to government officials and community leaders after its launch on February 6. Prior to joining MPI, Ms. McHugh served for 15 years as the executive director of The New York Immigration Coalition.
Kathleen Newland, Director, [email protected]
With more than 20 years of experience, Ms. Newland is an expert in migration management and U.S. refugee policy. Her current work focuses on migration and development, international migration management, and refugee protection and humanitarian aid. She has worked as an advisor and consultant to various international organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Muzaffar Chishti, Director of MPI at NYU School of Law, [email protected]
Mr. Chishti is an expert on state and local regulation of immigration, the intersection of labor and immigration law, civil liberties, and immigrant integration. He is the founder and former director of the Immigration Project of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial & Textile Employees (UNITE).
Deborah Meyers, Senior Policy Analyst, [email protected]
Ms. Meyers is an expert on U.S. immigration policy as well as U.S., Canada, and Mexico border management issues, temporary worker programs, and immigration programs within the Department of Homeland Security. Ms. Meyers also conducts interviews in Spanish.
Jeanne Batalova, Policy Analyst, [email protected]
Dr. Batalova focuses on the impacts of immigrants on social structure and labor markets; integration of immigrant children and elderly immigrants; and the policies regulating high-skilled immigration. She is also Data Manager for the Migration Information Source, MPI’s online resource for global data and analysis.
David A. Martin, Nonresident Fellow
Mr. Martin is the Warner-Booker Distinguished Professor of International Law at the University of Virginia. His research and teaching focus on immigration law, citizenship, refugees and asylum, immigration services, enforcement of immigration law, and constitutional law. He served as general counsel for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service from 1995 to 1998.
Marc Rosenblum, Nonresident Fellow
Dr. Rosenblum, a professor of Political Science at the University of New Orleans, teaches courses on U.S.-Latin American relations, as well as Latin American and comparative politics. As a visiting scholar, Dr. Rosenblum contributed to research for MPI’s bipartisan task force. He then worked on legislative proposals for comprehensive immigration reform on the staff of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
To arrange an interview, please contact Colleen Coffey at [email protected] or 202-266-1910.