Washington’s Cherry Trees: Cultural Exchange

Join us for a gnarly ride forward the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In this episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, we keep it stateside an examine why the P-1A is the visa that lets professional, international athletes be everywhere they want to be. EIG attorney, skateboard enthusiast, and P-1 visa expert, Sebastian Zavala, joins host Lauren Clarke for a medal-worthy episode. GUEST:  Sebastian Zavala, Associate Attorney, EIG LAWHOST: Lauren Clarke, EIG Senior AttorneyNEWS NERD: Rob Taylor, EIG Partner & ShareholderPRODUCER: Adam BelmarSHOW RESOURCE LINKS:LA28 Olympic Games: Opening Ceremony July 14, 2028P-1A VisasU.S. State Department Nonimmigrant Visa Resources

Could the rights of college athletes to monetize their personal brand, which consists of their name, image, and likeness potentially upend the F-1 visa class? Host Lauren Clarke is joined by Bloomberg Law Immigration reporter Andrew Kreighbaum for a deep dive on emerging risks to student visa eligibility. SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:Bloomberg Law reporting by Andrew KreighbaumInternational Student-Athlete ParticipationGUEST:  Andrew Kreighbaum, Immigration Reporter, Bloomberg LawHOST: Lauren ClarkeNEWS NERD: Rob TaylorPRODUCER: Adam Belmar

In this Women's History Month episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, we explore how immigration is not just about the movement of people, but also about the migration of ideas that enrich lives. Host, and EIG senior attorney, Lauren Clarke, is joined by Diana Parsell, author of the book, Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Journalist Behind Washington's Cherry Trees, for an inspiring look at a beautiful symbol of cultural exchange and an enduring connection between the people of Japan and America. Guest: Diana P. Parsell, Author of the book, Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Journalist Behind Washington's Cherry TreesNews Nerd: Rob Taylor, EIG Partner & ShareholderHost: Lauren ClarkeProducer: Adam BelmarSHOW RESOURCE LINKS:Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Journalist Behind Washington's Cherry Trees by Diana P. Parsell (Author) More About Eliza Scidmore Washington D.C.'s Cherry Blossom Festival Eliza Scidmore: Trailblazer bringing Japanese cherry trees to US | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

In an interview recorded on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke talked to David J. Bier, Associate Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute about the state of America's legal immigration system. Mr. Bier recently testified at a hearing before the Committee on Oversight and Accountability in the United States House of Representatives. In that testimony and on this episode of the Immigration Nerds, Bier discusses the the parole sponsorship program, illegal encounters at the border, and his analysis of what legal immigration should look like in the United States.GUEST: David J. Bier, Associate Director of Immigration Studies | Cato InstituteHOST: Lauren Clarke, Senior Attorney, Erickson Immigration GroupNEWS NERD: Rob Taylor, Partner & Shareholder, Erickson Immigration GroupPRODUCER: Adam BelmarSHOW RESOURCE LINKS:Immigration Hearing of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability for United States House of Representatives January 17, 2024 

The H-1B Domestic Visa Renewal pilot program launched on January 29, 2024. The Immigration Nerds - senior attorney and host, Lauren Clarke and senior managing attorney consular affairs, Diane Holcombe-Geddens - talk about the program and share valuable insight and process notes as the program gets underway.GUEST:  Diane Holcombe-Geddens, Senior Managing Attorney, Consular Affairs, EIGHOST: Lauren Clarke, Erickson Immigration Group, Senior AttorneyNEWS: Rob Taylor, Erickson Immigration Group PartnerPRODUCER: Adam BelmarSHOW RESOURCE LINKS: Domestic Renewal of H-1B Nonimmigrant Visas for Certain Applicants

Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke interviews César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández, author of the book, Welcome the Wretched: In Defense of the “Criminal Alien,” which explores the intersection of US immigration law and the criminal justice system. Also in this episode, news updates on USCIS policy guidance on student visas and fee increases for immigration services. GUEST:  César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández / Author, Immigration Lawyer, Gregory H. Williams Chair in Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at the Ohio State University Moritz College of LawHOST: Lauren ClarkePRODUCER: Adam BelmarSHOW RESOURCE LINKS:Welcome the Wretched: In Defense of the “Criminal Alien,” by César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández 

The Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke is joined by Stuart Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation for American Policy, to discuss his Forbes article, "The Most Inspiring Immigration Stories Of 2023." Hit play and learn about a teenage immigrant from Ethiopia who became one of America's top young scientists; a Mexican immigrant who became a successful entrepreneur; a Vietnamese refugee who won an Academy Award; and a group of Ukrainian refugees who helped Mississippi tornado victims.GUEST: Stuart Anderson, Executive Director, National Foundation for American Policy & Senior Contributor, ForbesHOST: Lauren ClarkePRODUCER: Adam BelmarSHOW RESOURCE LINKS: The Most Inspiring Immigration Stories Of 2023 By Stuart Anderson, Senior Contributor, Forbes

Guest: Dan Restrepo & Erin Sikorsky, Climate Migration CouncilHost: Lauren Clarke & Hiba AnverProducer: Adam BelmarOn this episode of the Immigration Nerds Podcast we discuss the issue of climate migration. Host Lauren Clarke is joined by Erickson Immigration Group Partner Hiba Anver and featured guests Dan Restrepo and Erin Sikorsky from the Climate Migration Council. They discussed the expected displacement of over 200 million individuals worldwide by 2050 due to climate change, and the need for a human-centered approach to migration, focusing on protecting the rights of affected communities, and enabling safe, regular, and orderly migration pathways.SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:Climate Migration CouncilClimate Migration Explainer 4Ocean

On this episode of Immigration Nerd Podcast we discuss the US Green Card system backlog of 7.6 million individuals waiting for lawful permanent residency and a new report that predicts nearly $4 trillion in economic gains to the US economy over the next decade if the backlog was cleared. Bloomberg Law immigration reporter Andrew Kreighbaum joins host Lauren Clarke to discuss the financial and human cost of the backlog.GUEST:  Andrew Kreighbaum, Immigration Reporter, Bloomberg LawHOST: Lauren ClarkePRODUCER: Adam BelmarSHOW RESOURCE LINKS:Bipartisan Policy Center Report: The Demographic Transition: An Overview of America’s Aging Population and Immigration’s Mediating Role (September 2023)American Community Survey Data – US Census Bureau Bloomberg: Green Card Backlog Costs Economy Trillions in Gains, Report Says

On this episode of Immigration Nerds we discuss the demographic crisis of the "graying of America" and the long-term economic challenges it poses to the United States. Host Lauren Clarks talks to Ben Gitis, Associate Director, Economy & Immigration, Bipartisan Policy Center, about their report highlighting the role of immigration in addressing this crisis. The report explains that the aging population and slowing population growth lead to a decline in labor force participation, which hampers economic growth. Immigration is seen as a vital tool to counteract these trends by welcoming workers who can fill open positions, contribute to productivity, and support programs like Social Security and Medicare. The report also mentions that other countries, such as Canada, have implemented aggressive immigration policies to address labor shortages, highlighting the urgency for the US to do the same.GUEST: Ben Gitis, Associate Director, Economy & Immigration, Bipartisan Policy CenterHOST: Lauren ClarkePRODUCER: Adam BelmarSHOW RESOURCE LINKS:Bipartisan Policy Center Report: The Demographic Transition: An Overview of America’s Aging Population and Immigration’s Mediating Role (September 2023)American Community Survey Data – US Census Bureau