Immigration Nerds

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 atto...

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 studen...

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 read...

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 Am...

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 Ch...

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 t...

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 th...

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...

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 immigra...

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 ma...

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 a...

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 enforceme...

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...

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, Den...

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 constructi...

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 intelligenc...

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 hand...

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 p...

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 LIN...

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 chang...

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 seri...

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...

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...

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...

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 com...