Today In Immigration

In this episode of Today in Immigration, The Immigration Lab at American University sits down with Amy Fisher, the Director of Refugee and Migrant Rights at Amnesty International, to discuss Amnesty's latest report, We Had Whistles, They Had Guns: Human Rights Violations in the U.S. Immigration Enforcement Operations and the Case to Abolish ICE.

Our conversation explores the report's key findings, specifically aimed at breaking down the international human rights violations that have been made by ICE and other immigration enforcement operations, how the Trump Administration has managed to make a larger “undocumented” and “deportable” population in the U.S., as well as the inhumane treatment of detainees in detention centers such as Alligator Alcatraz and the potential opening of a new detention center for separated immigrant children in Louisiana. We also cover the unlawful surveillance and use of AI for facial recognition tools for the purpose of detaining individuals and how Americans have come together in support of immigrants in their communities. Amnesty pushes for American citizens to come together to fight for accountability, changes, and justice in the current immigration enforcement system in the face of this current administration. 

Join us for a timely conversation with our special guest on human rights, immigration, the impacts of developing technology and detention centers, and the future of immigration policy in the U.S.

The World Cup is never just about soccer. It becomes a global stage for immigration, nationalism, diaspora identity, and the politics of who gets to belong, both on the field and in the stands.

Dr. Ernesto Castañeda is joined by Katheryn Olmos, Luis-Bill Perez, and Zineb Sair for a sharp conversation about how the tournament exposes the realities of migration in North America, Europe, and beyond. From Moroccan and Mexican diaspora emotions to the way players with mixed or immigrant backgrounds are embraced when they win and questioned when they lose, this episode shows why the World Cup is one of the clearest mirrors of our global politics.

What is the role of immigrants in shaping national teams, coaching staff, and tournament logistics? Why do players like Julian Quiñones and Zion Suzuki challenge narrow ideas of national identity? How do World Cup host cities become unexpected political flashpoints, from visa enforcement to public safety? Why is there tension between celebration and fear for immigrant communities watching from the US? How does the game amplify, not distract from, debates over race, assimilation, and representation?

Dr. Ernesto Castañeda, Director of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies and the Immigration Lab at American University as well as Full Professor at the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of International Service at American University in Washington, DC, brings a wide-angle analysis of migration, labor, and nationalism in global soccer. Luis-Bill Perez adds concrete examples from his research on visas, representation, and the real-world impact of immigration policy. Zineb Said contributes a powerful diaspora perspective, especially on what it means to watch your home country compete from abroad.

Most countries shy away from revealing how open migration can boost their economy, but Spain flips the script. In just two decades, Spain transformed from a nation of emigrants to a vibrant, immigrant-driven economy that’s now among Europe’s fastest-growing nations.

How did they manage this stunning turnaround? And what lessons can other countries learn from Spain’s unprecedented immigration policy success? Join us as we explore the rapid evolution of Spain’s migration landscape, from late 20th-century emigration to 2000s explosion in foreign-born residents.

Cecilia Estrada Villaseñor, a renowned migration researcher, shares insights into Spain’s strategic regularizations and how its deep historical ties with Latin America, North Africa, and European neighbors fueled its demographic and economic growth.

In this episode, we sit down with Cuban economic experts Ricardo Torres and Denisse Delgado to examine the current state of Cuba's economy and the role American politics play in fueling its ongoing social crisis. We explore how oil sanctions and the decades-long blockade have created chronic power outages and disrupted everyday life for ordinary Cubans. We also take a hard look at the American media landscape and how the narratives it constructs — often rooted in misinformation and propaganda — shape the way Americans understand Cuba, and why that matters for immigration policy today.