Immigration Realities

Cities need immigration to thrive. These newcomers allow for a mix of cultures and ideas that shapes innovation and economic growth. From New York to Paris to Mexico City and Washington, D.C., Dr. Castañeda’s new book, Immigration and Urban Vitality: How Newcomers Make Cities Strong , discusses the history and development of these cities, the important role immigrants have played, and the unique n...

Hondurans have been at the heart of some of the most visible migration phenomena in the last few years, as well as the direct target of anti-immigrant rhetoric and policy. In  Leave If You Can,  Amelia Frank-Vitale offers a detailed portrait of the Honduran exodus and what it reveals about the broader consequences of changing US border enforcement policies. She highlights the stories of those who...

This episode covers immigration policies under the Biden administration with Amanda Baran – the former Principal Director for Immigration Policy and Chief of Public Engagement at USCIS. Ms. Baran’s public service career spans over a decade at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where she held several leadership positions in which she advanced immigration, civil rights, and gender equity init...

This podcast dives into the many narratives surrounding immigration, from widely believed myths to the truth backed by real facts. In our conversations, we explore how media often shapes and distorts public perception, while highlighting the lived realities of immigration that are often overlooked. We especially encourage students at American University to tune in, as our goal is to spark awarenes...

This episode explores the idea of “belonging” as something that is built over time rather than instantly granted, especially in the context of migration and community life. Through a conversation with Sol Espinoza and host Ernesto Castañeda , it looks at how immigrants navigate identity, community acceptance, and connection after arriving in a new place. A central theme is that belonging is not ju...

In the current political climate, it may seem as though all migration to the United States is being prohibited; however some legal pathways to entry are actually being expanded and implemented. The H2A agricultural guestworker visa program allows farmers to sponsor migrant workers to enter the US legally, providing essential transportation and housing for the duration of their stay. This program i...

This episode centers on a real community question from a listener in Maryland about what people should do if ICE shows up in their community. The discussion directly addresses that concern and several common myths and misunderstandings about immigration enforcement. This conversation features Dr. Ernesto Castañeda, Marcy Campos, and Monica Palacio, who bring academic, legal, and community perspect...

American University Sociology Research & Practice MA students present research at the 2025 Public Anthropology conference, drawing on 233 in-depth interviews with recently arrived migrants in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. This collaborative project features work by Anjini Patel, Hannah Wingo, Amanda Vincent, Quinn Pierson, Olivia Salamone, Tabby Ford, Katheryn Olmos, Caryalyn Jean, an...

Chris Belden, Research Assistant at the Immigration Lab, discusses the exclusion of LGBT+ refugees in Kenya's Shikira Plan and discusses possible solutions.

CNN correspondent Priscilla Álvarez visits to discuss how recent immigration policy shifts impact people, communities, and international relations. She shares what it's like reporting on immigration today and talks about the role of journalists in promoting a fact-based narrative around immigration.

Dr. Ernesto Castañeda continues the conversation of Immigration Realities, while addressing misconceptions surrounding migration trends, lifestyles, and integration. His talk is followed by a Q & A with members of the American University community.

“Criminalized by Design: How U.S. Immigration Policy Hurts Families, Not Crime Rates”   Immigration Congressional Policy Brief May 21, 2025 Dirksen Senate Office Building 1) Charis Kubrin, UCI Criminology, Law & Society, “The Myth of the Criminal Immigrant: How Policy Based on Fear Fails Us All” Immigration-related policies founded on an assumption of widespread immigrant criminality or claims...

In this episode, we listen to "Immigration In Focus: Insights from Policy Experts," an event that took place at American University on Thursday, April 24; though the negative effects of punitive immigration policies are always evergreen. This episode pairs well with this blogpost https://theimmigrationlab.org/blog/f/campaigning-against-immigrants-is-often-a-losing-proposition Speakers include: Amy...

In this podcast, the Immigration Lab researchers discuss some of the results of ongoing research including over 200 in-depth interviews with new arrivals, including immigrants, asylum seekers, people with TPS, parole, and other humanitarian permits in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and New York City from Ecuador, Venezuela, El Salvador, Mexico, and Ukraine. 

This podcast is a recording of a live immigration policy panel that took place at American University on April 4, 2025. The first in a series of 2 podcasts. Interviewer Todd Zwillich, co-host of 1A on WAMU, DC's NPR station. Speakers include Kathleen Bush-Joseph, Migration Policy Institute; Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, American Immigration Council; and Ernesto Castaneda, The Immigration Lab, discuss th...

Dr. Castañeda, Anthony Sandoval, Joseph Fournier, and Marshall Plane discuss the rhetoric about recent immigration and the Trump administration's current response. Topics include the recent congressional hearing with sanctuary city mayors; how we can counter the criminal steteotype of immigrants; Trump's recent proposals about using the military for deportations; and much more.

Dr. Castañeda breaks down Trump's first month executive actions regarding immigration, putting his policies in legal and historical context. Marshall Plane talks about his research on the economic integration of asylum seekers in New York City. His findings contradict the narrative that migrants are an economic burden on the city. Katheryn Olmos talks us about the use of Guantanomo Bay to detain i...