Immigration Policy in the Wake of the 2024 Election: Impacts to Immigrant Communities and Finding a Path Forward

In recent years, the U.S. immigration policy landscape has become increasingly punitive and restrictive, with harmful impacts to immigrant children and families. Not only have we seen greater restrictions at the federal level, but we have also seen a concerning increase in the number of state level policies and actions attempting to address immigration. The punitive policy landscape has been particularly potent during the 2024 presidential election season. Despite early promises to implement more friendly immigration policies, the Biden administration has adopted a more restrictive approach in the latter years of its presidency, including greater limitations to asylum. Meanwhile the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump promises to implement even more punitive policies if he is to be elected, including strict border enforcement policies, travel bans, and mass deportations. This roundtable will delve into the complex immigration policy context at play in the U.S. in the wake of the 2024 presidential election and will highlight the implications for the wellbeing of immigrant communities. This roundtable session will begin with a discussion of the current state of play for immigration policy. A diverse group of researchers and policy advocates from key organizations involved in immigration policy work will provide an overview of key immigration policies at work at the federal and state levels after the 2024 presidential election. Next, a research scholar will speak to the harmful impacts of this policy environment on immigrant child and family wellbeing. Then, guest speakers from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and/or Kids in Needs of Defense (KIND) policy advocacy organizations will provide an overview of key advocacy agendas and priorities given the current policy context. Finally, all roundtable panelists will discuss important implications for social work research and education, and how social work researchers may strategically collaborate with advocates to advance protective policies that prioritize the wellbeing of immigrant communities. The goal of this roundtable is to promote understanding of the complex policy environment impacting immigrant children and their families, while also identifying ways in which social work researchers can support inclusive and protective policy priorities. As we emerge from the tumultuous 2024 election, engaging in policy and program advocacy through collaborative partnerships can strengthen social impact in order to support immigrant and child family wellbeing.