The "Immigration as a National Security Imperative" panel at TruCon 2024, moderated by Camille J. Mackler, Truman’s Visiting Senior Fellow for Immigration, brought together a diverse group of immigration experts to explore immigration legislation options and innovative solutions aimed at bolstering America’s national security. Truman focuses on the nexus between immigration and national security through research and field work, and the panel offered an exclusive look into how immigration policy relates to issues such as the workforce and both national and international stability.

Key Insights:

1. Military Perspective on Immigration: Louis Caldera, former Secretary of the Army, offered a unique perspective on the impact of immigration on US military readiness. He highlighted the challenges posed by policies deterring immigrants from joining the military and emphasized the need for cultural competency in military recruitment. “There are a lot of people that would be willing to serve if we opened up opportunities for them,” he said. “And in serving they would strengthen our security and the military.”
2. Integrated Policy Approach: Ambassador Cynthia L. Courville (ret.) emphasized the necessity of an “an effective and all encompassing policy” on immigration and national security. Drawing on her experience within the National Security Council, Amb. Courville advocated for a three-tiered process that integrates the strategic, tactical, and operational components of policy development. She stressed the importance of actionable policies that involve collaboration across bureaucracies and underscored the significance of education and historical context in shaping immigration debates.
3. Adapting Policy to New Migration Trends: Andrea Flores, Vice President of Immigration Policy & Campaigns at FWD.us, highlighted the need to adapt immigration and border policies to reflect evolving migration trends and demographics. She emphasized the ineffectiveness of existing policies in addressing contemporary migration challenges and called for bipartisan efforts to address humanitarian issues at the border. Flores also emphasized the negative impacts of past border policies and stressed the importance of research in understanding the consequences of anti-immigration measures.
4. Comprehensive Approach to Immigration: Dr. Manuel Orozco, Director of the Migration, Remittances & Development Program at the Inter-American Dialogue, advocated for a comprehensive approach to the immigration and national security debate. He discussed the need to go beyond traditional national security measures and incorporate economic, diplomatic, development, and rule of law considerations. Dr. Orozco emphasized the importance of understanding migrants' motivations and tailoring policies accordingly to address root causes of migration, stating: “[we] need to understand with precision where the problem is coming from and how to tackle it.”

The panel provided valuable insights into the complex interplay between immigration and national security, examining proactive immigration legislation, integrated policy approaches, and the need to adapt to new migration trends, and offered actionable recommendations to address immigration challenges while enhancing national security.

Written by Alexandria Johnson and Chris Aboukhaled