Immigration Nerds

Due to recent events in Afghanistan, this episode is a timely one to revisit. Released June 24th, 2021.

Noah Coburn is an Anthropologist Professor at Bennington College and author of “Bazaar Politics: Power and Pottery in an Afghan Market Town”. He focuses on political structures and violence in the Middle East and Central Asia.

We discuss:

o   His background and how he first became interested in political structures and violence in the Middle East and Central Asia

o   The history and current state of the Special Immigrant Visa, and how it pertains to Afghanistan

o   How the U.S. troop withdrawal will impact immigration from Afghanistan and the SIV

o   Policy proposals and improvements to this system

Since the release of the first edition in 1990, Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook has been the go-to legal reference on U.S. immigration law. It cuts out lengthy explanations to provide busy legal professionals with what they need and want—a comprehensive, authoritative, and concise analysis of a complicated area of law.

The author of that book, Ira Kurzban, joins to share his immigration career.

Erickson Immigration Groups Managing Director Hiba Anver joins.

Former University of Mexico Anthropology professor,  New York Times contributor, and author of the “Deep Midwest” Bob Leonard joins.

We discuss:

• Rural America economic growth problem
• The career opportunity for immigrants
• Skills needed
• Bridging social and cultural differences

We have one of the most innovative and civic-minded foodies in DC Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Immigrant Food, PETER SCHECHTER, and TÉA IVANOVIC.

We discuss:

• D.C.’s first cause-casual restaurant
• Immigration lectures and classes held at the restaurant
• How working on former political campaigns and launching non-profits informed their community-led spirit to combine advocacy with food
• How lockdowns affected business

Ahilan T. Arulanantham joins Immigration Nerds. Ahilan is a Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law and former Senior Counsel at the ACLU in Los Angeles.

Co-hosted by Lead Researcher, Luke Bianco.

We discuss:

• TPS litigation and Supreme Court arguments
• Nadarajah v. Gonzales, the first Ninth Circuit case establishing limits on the government’s power to detain immigrants as national security threats
• Ahilan’s leadership in defense of immigrant rights at the ACLU during the previous administration
• Advice for young lawyers/law students who want to make a positive impact in the field

Can Biden pass immigration reform? History says it will be tough

Brookings Institution Director of the Center for Effective Public Management Elaine C. Kamarck joins the podcast. She is an expert on American electoral politics, government innovation, and reform in the United States, focusing her research on the presidential nomination system and American politics.

We discuss:

• Why comprehensive immigration reform is so hard to pass
• Reasons why it failed in both 2007 and 2013
• Likelihood of it being passed during this administration

Erickson Immigration Group's Senior Attorney Zara Najam, and Kingsley Napley's Associate Attorney Rizwana Quazi join.

We discuss:

1. Lockdown in the UK
2. Its effects on Business travel now and in the future post-Brexit July 1st transition
3. Right-to-work changes for UK employers. 
4. Settled Status options for employers/employees

Noah Coburn is an Anthropologist Professor at Bennington College and author of “Bazaar Politics: Power and Pottery in an Afghan Market Town”. He focuses on political structures and violence in the Middle East and Central Asia.

We discuss:

o   His background and how he first became interested in political structures and violence in the Middle East and Central Asia

o   The history and current state of the Special Immigrant Visa, and how it pertains to Afghanistan

o   How the U.S. troop withdrawal will impact immigration from Afghanistan and the SIV

o   Policy proposals and improvements to this system

Pooja Vora recently graduated with a Masters in Public Policy from Georgetown University, McCourt School of Public Policy where she pursued her interests in immigration, education, housing, and racial equity issues. Pooja is a founding member and past president of the McCourt Migration and Refugee Policy Initiative whose mission centers around highlighting and promoting evidence-based migration issues.

We discuss:

• The current healthcare shortages impacting the U.S. and how immigrants/refugees provide both short and long term solutions
• How COVID-19 exposed systematic vulnerabilities within visa policies, and what challenges still face the industry after reopening
• Immigration policies that would relieve shortage pressures and reduce processing times of qualified healthcare workers in underserved areas where they are most needed

Linkedin: Pooja

Vora | LinkedIn

Article Links: Georgetown

Public Policy Review / Harnessing Immigrant and Refugee Healthcare Workers to

Fight COVID: Immediate Answers - Georgetown Public Policy Review

(gppreview.com)

Georgetown

Public Policy Review / Harnessing Immigrant and Refugee Healthcare Workers to

Fight COVID: The Longer Arc - Georgetown Public Policy Review (gppreview.com)

Born in Costa Rica, Chef Byron Gomez migrated to the United States when he was 8 years old. His interest in culinary arts started at a young age and after several years cooking on Long Island, he set his sights on New York City. With a mission to learn from some of the country’s best, he honed his skills under culinary luminaries like Daniel Boulud, Ronny Emborg, Gavin Kaysen, and Daniel Humm. 

While working at Eleven Madison Park, named the World’s Best Restaurant in 2017, Chef Byron traveled with the restaurant’s pop up experiences to the Hamptons and Aspen. After spending the winter in the Rocky Mountains resort town, he decided to plant roots and joined the team at 7908 Aspen in 2019. There, his refined, globally-inspired menu is paired with a world-class wine and bar program. Chef Byron will be featured on Season 18 of Bravo’s Top Chef. On his days off you can find him enjoying all the outdoor adventure sports, ranging from road biking to snowboarding, that colorful Colorado has to offer. 

Social Media: 

Chef Byron Instagram: @chefbyrongomez

7908 Aspen Instagram: @7908aspen