Director, Bush Institute- @SMU Economic Growth Initiative @TheBushCenter. #Immigration is pro-growth economic policy.
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Articles by Laura Collins
Monthly immigration update: September 2026
Legal immigration continues to face headwinds. Policy changes have slowed normal visa processing, paused visa issuance in certain countries, and proposed high fees for certain highly skilled immigrants. These and other changes have had a chilling effect on America’s ability to admit new workers that our economy needs. Foreign-born workers who are already in the United States have been greatly impacted.
Revoking Temporary Protected Status Comes with a Cost
Allowing Temporary Protected Status to expire and forcing the foreign nationals who were in the program to return to countries which remain unsafe, hurt local American economies and diminish American leadership abroad. TPS was created in the Immigration Act of 1990 to assist Salvadorans who were in the United States and couldn’t return home safely due to civil war.
Monthly immigration update: August 2026
There is a famous bumper sticker in Texas that states, “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.” This describes Patricia Rojas perfectly. Rojas arrived in the Dallas area when she was only 4 months old with her parents, who moved to the United States on an E-2 visa, a form of temporary but indefinitely renewable work visa. Her parents’ visas no longer covered her as a dependent once she turned 21.
Monthly immigration update: June 2026
In late May, the Trump Administration announced new guidance for foreign-born residents who wanted to apply for a green card. The adjustment of status memo indicated that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services would use its discretion to require many temporary visa holders to leave the United States to apply for a green card from abroad through consular processing. The backlash to this policy was immediate, and USCIS later clarified that most applicants won’t need to leave the United States.
Congress must modernize asylum policy before the justices upend it Original
Opinion>Opinions - Immigration The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill by Theresa Cardinal Brown and Laura Collins, opinion contributors - 04/27/26 1:30 PM ET Link copied by Theresa Cardinal Brown and Laura Collins, opinion contributors - 04/27/26 1:30 PM ET Link copied FILE – An American flag waves in front of the Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Nov. 2, 2020.
Monthly immigration update: April 2026
Southwest border encounters of migrants remain low with a little over 11,000 recorded for March. At the same time, the federal government’s policy to turn back migrants without providing an opportunity to be screened for asylum protections is being challenged in court in a class action lawsuit brought by asylum seekers against the Department of Homeland Security. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in this case, Al Otro Lado v. Mullin, in late March.
Monthly Immigration Update: March 2026
The Wall Street Journal published an interesting article earlier in March about how Russia recruits Africans to fight on the front lines of its war against Ukraine. The article is worth reading to better understand one of the lesser-known dynamics of that conflict. What stood out to me, though, was the connection to U.S. immigration policy.
Monthly Immigration Update: Feb. 2026
Haitian immigrants are in the news again as the Trump Administration continues to try to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 330,000 Haitians whose home country has been in chaos since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. A federal court has so far stayed the revocation, and Haitians on TPS remain able to live and work in the United States while litigation proceeds. Haiti is a great example of how immigration is both a foreign policy and a domestic policy issue.
Haiti needs coordinated response for interlocking crises
Haiti, a vulnerable Caribbean country in our own hemisphere, is beset with political instability, a catastrophic and worsening security collapse, and a humanitarian crisis that has triggered unbearable human cost, internal displacement, and uncontrolled migration, including to the United States. There has been no elected government for five years and no elections since 2016. The last sitting president was assassinated in 2021. There is no functioning parliament.
Monthly Immigration Update: Jan. 2026
Like many of you, I have been watching the enforcement operations and resulting protests in Minnesota closely. Regardless of how stringently you want immigration law enforced, I think we can all agree that U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike deserve to have their constitutional rights respected.
Monthly Immigration Update: Dec. 2025
As we close 2025, I’ve been thinking a lot about the culture of compassion and welcome that continues to live in the American people. This year has seen many unwelcoming immigration policies that target not just people without legal immigration status in the U.S. but also lawful foreign-born workers and others who have waited in line and done what the law requires.
Our country is stronger because of immigrants
Immigration has been part of the American story since our founding, to the benefit of our nation. Sometimes, we’ve welcomed immigrants, like in the years of mass voluntary migration from Europe through Ellis Island. Other times, our policies have been explicitly anti-immigrant, like the Chinese Exclusion Act or the refusal to admit Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis. In the 1970s, we welcomed thousands of Asian refugees fleeing socialism and war.
Should we turn our backs on Afghans in America because of one man’s crimes?
Read U.S. Air Force loadmasters and pilots assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron load passengers aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III in support of the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) on Aug. 24, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Photo by Master Sgt. Donald R.
The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Merger Control 2026
Four Sidley lawyers contributed to the 22nd edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide - Merger Control 2026, a book recently published by Global Legal Group Ltd., London. The book provides corporate counsel and international practitioners with a comprehensive legal analysis of the merger control laws and regulations in 30 jurisdictions around the world.
Strategerist After Hours: Gratitude in a season of gathering
As we gather, travel home, or pause for a quiet moment, Thanksgiving reminds us to slow down and focus on what matters most. In today’s Strategerist After Hours episode, we’re embracing the spirit of gratitude — not just during the holidays, but as an everyday practice of noticing the good, acknowledging the people who lift us up, and finding meaning even in challenging times.
Monthly Immigration Update: Nov. 2025
Immigration is important to the Texas economy – 22.6% of the labor force is foreign-born. This group includes legal permanent residents and unauthorized immigrants. The Migration Policy Institute estimates there are nearly 2 million unauthorized immigrants in Texas.
Monthly Immigration Update: Oct. 2025
Policymaking often comes down to tradeoffs, and immigration is no different. Consider the following questions: If we have a slightly more welcoming asylum policy, how many more people will attempt to cross the border who would not otherwise qualify for protection? If we make it too difficult for American farmers to hire foreign labor, how much of our food supply are we willing to import instead?
H-1B visas, the $100,000 fee, and the economy
The United States needs more skilled workers to ensure the future prosperity, vitality, and security of the United States. However, the new presidential proclamation to limit legal, skills-based immigration is likely to have the opposite effect. The proclamation would impose a $100,000 fee for the H-1B, a temporary visa for skilled workers with at least a bachelor’s degree.
Immigration made clear with fact based answers
Q: How does immigration benefit the economy? A: America benefits from immigration because foreign born workers fill open jobs at all skill levels and supplement the native-born workforce to ensure our future prosperity, vitality, and security. If the U.S. is not producing enough workers with the requisite knowledge, skills, and education, businesses will need find other ways to fill that gap in the labor force. They can automate, outsource, or import labor.
Monthly Immigration Update: Sept. 2025
Yesterday’s shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office here in Dallas, Texas is the third instance of disturbing violence related to immigration enforcement facilities in Texas since this summer. Sadly, three innocent people were senselessly injured or killed. Violent, abhorrent actions like this should have no place in debates about American policies. The U.S. economy has lost over 1 million foreign workers since January 2025.
Monthly Immigration Update: August 2025
The United States is experiencing a drop in foreign tourism, declining foreign college student enrollment, and a reduction in the number of foreign-born workers in the labor force. At least at the moment, the enforcement policies have had a chilling effect on legal migration. It’s unclear just how much damage these reductions will cause in the aggregate, but some industries and communities are already feeling pain.
Monthly Immigration Update: July 2025
Insights from Bush Institute immigration expert Laura Collins The devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country on July 4 are still fresh in our minds. We are grateful to those who are assisting in the recovery, and we continue to keep the grieving families in our thoughts and prayers. For those looking to support relief efforts, The Dallas Morning News has compiled a list of ways you can help.
America thrives when immigration works
Read This Immigrant Heritage Month, Laura Collins, Director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative at the Bush Institute, shares how immigration benefits America’s economy, culture, military, and society. America benefits from immigration, and we should keep immigrants’ role in society in mind as we debate what a reformed future immigration system should be. Immigrants are a vital part of our economy. They pick our crops, teach our children, and care for our elderly.
Monthly Immigration Update: June 2025
Insights from Bush Institute immigration expert Laura Collins We are six months into the second Trump Administration, and the notion that immigration enforcement will only target criminals has run its course. It was never really true that maximum enforcement would be limited to immigrants who have committed crimes beyond immigration violations. The detention data since January have shown that an increasing share of immigrant detainees are not criminals.
Monthly Immigration Update: May 2025
Insights from Bush Institute immigration expert Laura Collins According to The Washington Post, the administration plans to use funds appropriated for refugee resettlement to pay for voluntary departures of certain migrants to their home countries. On the list are migrants who might have a legal status in the U.S. – parole, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or even a pending asylum request – from places like Haiti, Ukraine, and Afghanistan.
We must fight for our Afghan allies
Read Afghanistan isn’t safe, yet the United States may soon be responsible for sending our most trusted partners in Afghanistan back to a corrupt and brutal reality where they will be directly targeted for serving alongside American interests – unless the administration and Congress act now.
The Policy Implications of the IRS-ICE Data Sharing Agreement
In early April, the U.S. Departments of the Treasury and Homeland Security issued a memorandum of understanding to allow the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to share private taxpayer information upon request from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist ICE’s efforts to locate and remove undocumented immigrants with final orders of removal.
Monthly Immigration Update: April 2025
NBC News reports that deportations remain below the pace promised by the Trump Administration, as the reality of funding, staff, and process limitations hinder the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to quickly remove immigrants. The administration has been trying to speed up removals in a few different ways, leading to a few high profile court cases.
Transforming services in partnership with service users and carers to co-develop the new Integrated Care System for Northern Ireland (ICSNI) | International Journal of Integrated Care
This transformation programme will see the development of a new commissioning framework model for Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland. Service users and carers are at the heart of this, working in partnership with other key stakeholders.
Monthly Immigration Update: March 2025
Insights from Bush Institute immigration expert Laura Collins Migration is still happening in the Western Hemisphere (and worldwide), and other countries are shouldering the burden to provide safety, security, and opportunity to the displaced. While the United States touts low border encounters, Mexico is processing three to four times as many asylum seekers than previously.
Collins column: Immigration complexities explained
The United States recently paused immigration applications for certain migrants. Who were the applications paused for, and what does this mean? The U.S. paused applications for immigration benefits such as Temporary Protected Status and asylum for people admitted during the Biden administration’s parole programs, including Uniting for Ukraine and the CHNV program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
Immigration ‘gold card’: What is it, and how could it impact our immigration system?
President Donald Trump recently announced that foreign nationals who want to work and live in the U.S. and have a path to citizenship will be able to purchase a “gold card.” What is a gold card? We do not have a lot of details yet as no official statement on this proposal has been made. Based on remarks from President Trump, we believe the proposal may be a green card program for wealthy individuals who are able to invest at least $5 million in the U.S. At a Cabinet meeting on Feb.
Immigration Application Pauses Explained – DC Journal - InsideSources
The United States recently paused immigration applications for certain migrants. Who were the applications paused for, and what does this mean? The U.S. paused applications for immigration benefits such as Temporary Protected Status and asylum for people admitted during the Biden administration’s parole programs, including Uniting for Ukraine and the CHNV program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
The U.S. pauses immigration applications for certain migrants: What does it mean?
The U.S. recently paused immigration applications for certain migrants. Who were the applications paused for, and what does this mean? The U.S. paused applications for immigration benefits such as Temporary Protected Status and asylum for people admitted during the Biden Administration’s parole programs, including Uniting for Ukraine and the CHNV program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
Monthly Immigration Update: February 2025
Insights from Bush Institute immigration expert Laura Collins Arrests, detentions, and deportation flights have dominated the headlines since last month, and a month into the administration is a good time to check what’s really happening. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stopped giving daily updates on arrests earlier this month, and CBS News reported that the agency has had to release from custody some migrants it arrested rather than detain them while they await removal.
How will the Trump Administration’s executive orders affect U.S. immigration?
Read On the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump signed several executive orders related to immigration. The orders are wide-ranging. Some address the deployment of active-duty troops to U.S. border regions. Others aim to shut down asylum access and pause refugee resettlement. One attempts to restrict birthright citizenship. Perhaps the most damaging to the long-term economic health of the U.S. is the executive order to enhance security vetting of all visa applications.
US mass deportation explained
By Laura Collins, George W Bush Presidential Centre What does it mean to be an “undocumented” immigrant? There are approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States as of 2022, according to the . Undocumented immigrants are people who either entered the country illegally or who entered legally but overstayed their visas rather than returning home. While some are recent arrivals to the United States, many have lived here for more than a decade.
Monthly Immigration Update: January 2025
Insights from Bush Institute immigration expert Laura Collins The inauguration is less than a week away, and the incoming administration has promised more than 100 executive orders on the first day. The immigration-related orders are rumored to focus on enforcement. Meanwhile, the House and Senate are debating an enforcement-related bill, the Laken Riley Act, and are negotiating the parameters of a budget reconciliation bill that is likely to contain funding for the border.
Reforming our Immigration System
America benefits from immigration, but our outdated system needs a top-to-bottom overhaul to ensure our future prosperity, vitality, and security. The post-COVID-19 economic recovery produced high demand for labor, and immigrants from around the world have filled these open jobs. The Congressional Budget Office has predicted that the increase in immigration over the last few years will boost nominal GDP by $8.9 trillion in the next decade and lower the deficit by nearly a trillion dollars.
Monthly Immigration Update: November 2024
Insights from Bush Institute immigration expert Laura Collins The incoming Trump Administration and allies have reiterated support for campaign promises to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. In response to questions about the cost, the President-elect told NBC News that the price doesn’t matter. At the Bush Institute, we believe that the cost to deport millions does matter.
Mass deportation explained
What does it mean to be an “undocumented” immigrant? There are approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States as of 2022, according to the . Undocumented immigrants are people who either entered the country illegally or who entered legally but overstayed their visas rather than returning home. While some are recent arrivals to the United States, many have lived here for more than a decade.
Monthly Immigration Update: October 2024
Insights from Bush Institute immigration expert Laura Collins Mexico inaugurated its 66th president, Claudia Sheinbaum, earlier this month. In addition to a myriad of challenges, she inherits recent migration and security cooperation with the U.S. that has been credited with large reductions in the number of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. This LA Times piece highlights an example of the current cooperation: Mexico asked the U.S. to open more CBP One appointments.
Celebrate our newest Americans this Citizenship Week
Read This week is both Constitution Week and Citizenship Week, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is marking the occasion by naturalizing more than 17,000 immigrants. USCIS made a concerted effort to reduce the backlog of naturalization applications in recent years, ensuring that our immigrant neighbors who are ready to become Americans can do so without unnecessarily long wait times. Why this matters: The George W.
Hannah Sklar -- Bush Institute Citation Recipient for Creamos
Listen The Strategerist Podcast Creamos is a non-profit organization working to support the community surrounding Guatemala City’s garbage dump in achieving economic self-determination. The organization was awarded the 2024 George W. Bush Institute Citation for its impactful work in its community and for inspiring others to take action to solve today’s most pressing challenges.
Celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month by reading these five stories
Read America benefits from immigration. Immigrants strengthen our economy – opening businesses and creating jobs, driving innovation, and performing essential work. Immigrants help our culture flourish – introducing new sounds, smells, movement, and sights for us to experience. And immigrants are woven into our communities – they are our friends and neighbors; they are our community helpers and teachers; and, for some, they are family.
Family Connections Hosts Annual, A Toast to Hope Event in Maplewood
East Orange, NJ: On May 8, 2024, Family Connections hosted their annual fundraiser, A Toast to Hope, at Maplewood Country Club. The night was a celebration of the organization’s achievements and a chance to honor Heidi Murphy, a former Board Member of the organization, with the Roger Manshel Lifetime Achievement Award and John “JP” Perry of Henry O. Baker with the Champion of the People Award.
Opinion: Changing the culture around a federal paid leave program starts at school
Why don’t Americans take sick time when they need it? Often, it’s because of pressures they first learned in school. From the day their kids first start school, parents are pressured to ensure students don’t miss any days. While that might seem benign, urging a student to attend school while ill creates a culture that prioritizes “presenteeism” — a culture of showing up all the time, even when you’re in no shape to.
Annunciation House makes the crisis at the border better, not worse
Immigration expert Laura Collins, Director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, recently wrote in the Dallas Morning News about the importance of El Paso nonprofit Annunciation House and similar organizations serving our border communities. “As long as the United States is a destination for migrants, we’ll need organizations like El Paso’s Annunciation House.
Changing attitudes toward being sick
By Safiya Simmons, Laura Collins, Suzette Gardner Why don’t Americans take sick time when they need it? Often, it’s because of pressures they first learned in school. From the day their kids first start school, parents are pressured to ensure students don’t miss any days. While that might seem benign, urging a student to attend school while ill creates a culture that prioritizes “presenteeism” — a culture of showing up all the time, even when you’re in no shape to.
Changing the culture around paid leave starts at school
By Safiya Simmons, Laura Collins and Suzette Gardner Why don't Americans take sick time when they need it? Often, it's because of pressures they first learned in school. From the day their kids first start school, parents are pressured to ensure students don't miss any days. While that might seem benign, urging a student to attend school while ill creates a culture that prioritizes "presenteeism" - a culture of showing up all the time, even when you're in no shape to.
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