At a recent Immigration Newsmaker hosted by the Center for Immigration Studies, Andrew Veprek, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), described a complete reorientation of the bureau, shifting it from a humanitarian assistance agency toward implementing U.S. enforcement and return priorities. The discussion offered a look at how immigration policy is increasingly being implemented through diplomacy as well as enforcement.

In a discussion moderated by Mark Krikorian, Veprek said PRM is now organized around three basic functions:

Remigration and Returns. Veprek outlined the work of PRM’s Office of Remigration, including securing cooperation from foreign governments to facilitate the repatriation of nationals ordered removed, arranging third-country transfers when return to home countries is not possible, and supporting voluntary return efforts through Project Homecoming.

International Migration and Refugee System Reform. Veprek discussed reforms to the global refugee and asylum system, and U.S. reassessment of international migration frameworks, including reduced reliance on multilateral institutions and changes in relations with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Refugee Processing. He also detailed changes to refugee admissions, including the South Africa resettlement program, the transfer of refugee resettlement responsibilities from the State Department to HHS, increased fraud scrutiny, and the removal of UNHCR from its prior referral role in U.S. refugee admissions.

Among the notable points raised during the discussion:

• Greater foreign cooperation from “recalcitrant” countries on accepting deportees;
• Use of third-country removal arrangements;
• Consideration of refugee protection as temporary rather than presumptively permanent;
• Potential increases to the refugee admissions ceiling;
• A more selective approach to international organizations based on U.S. interests.

Host

Mark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.

Guest

Andrew Veprek is the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM).

Links

Transcript: Immigration Newsmaker with Andrew VeprekV

ideo: Immigration Newsmaker with Andrew Veprek

Intro Montage

Voices in the opening montage:

• Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.
• Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.
• President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.
• Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.
• Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.
• Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.
• Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.
• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.
• Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.
• Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.
• Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.
• Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".