Leir Migration Monitor: The Road Ahead for U.S. Asylum and Migration Policies

Trump’s plans for tougher border enforcement won’t necessarily stop migrants from coming to the US – but their journeys could become more costly and dangerous

Article for the December 9th, 2024 edition of The Conversation by Dr. Katrina Burgess, Director of the Henry J. Leir Institute, and Professor of Political Economy at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University

In her article for The Conversation, Professor Katrina Burgess explores the enduring consequences of “prevention through deterrence,” a U.S. border enforcement strategy initiated in the 1990s. Despite massive investments in border security and stricter immigration policies, the approach has failed to deter migration, instead fueling a lucrative criminal economy and putting migrants in greater danger. Drawing from decades of data and recent interviews, her piece reveals how desperate circumstances drive migrants to risk everything, challenging the effectiveness and humanity of current U.S. immigration strategies.

Read more of Katrina Burgess’ article here: