In a recent video conversation, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Dean, Paul Wahlbeck discusses the politics and policies of immigration in the United States with Dr. Kimberly Morgan, professor of political science and international affairs, as well as Elliott School’s Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs.
Dr. Morgan is currently working on a book that analyzes the evolution of the immigration enforcement system in the U.S. During her conversation with Dean Wahlbeck, she highlights how this system has significantly changed, particularly following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This pivotal event led to the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and subsequent increases in resources allocated to border security. However, as Dr. Morgan points out, these developments were also influenced by underlying political dynamics that reflected rising immigration levels.
Dr. Morgan explains that local concerns emerged as more migrants began to settle in different parts of the Midwest and Southeast. She describes the “failure to really grapple with the root causes of migration, including undocumented migration,” as central to the arguments for overhauling the immigration system and emphasizes that these root causes extend beyond policy discussions to encompass the U.S. labor market’s demands for workers, as well as humanitarian aspects like asylum-seeking.
Reflecting on recent trends, Dr. Morgan notes that the surge in immigration under the Biden administration—approximately eight million new arrivals—has sparked considerable backlash. However, she points out that studies consistently demonstrate the substantial economic benefits of immigration. Dr. Morgan cautioned that a reversal of current immigration policies could stifle this economic potential.
In her comparative politics class, Dr. Morgan emphasizes the significance of migration as an essential component of globalization. She argues that migration is a vital part of the global economy underpinning the forces that drive economic prosperity.
Watch the full interview here.