Immigration Nerds

In this special episode of the Immigration Nerds Podcast, we break down what President Trump's H-1B proclamation means for employers and employees. Host Lauren Clarke and EIG partner Alejandra Zapatero explain who's actually affected, whether current H-1B holders can travel safely, and what employers should do now. We address the looming legal challenges, the uncertain future of the H-1B lottery, and provide practical guidance for F-1 students and startups navigating tough choices. If you're navigating the H-1B visa right now, this episode tells you what you need to know. GUESTS: Alejandra Zapatero, EIG PARTNER HOST: Lauren Clarke PRODUCER: Adam Belmar INTERVIEW RECORD: Monday, September 29, 2025 @ 4:30 PM ET

Can America's immigration system handle the 2026 FIFA World Cup? With 3 million daily travelers expected and visa wait times stretching hundreds of days in key countries, we're facing unprecedented challenges. Ryan Propis from the US Travel Association joins us to discuss what needs to happen now - from expanding visa waiver programs to deploying AI-powered screening technology. This isn't just about soccer; it's about America's ability to welcome the world while maintaining security. This is our first episode in an ongoing series, looking forward to the FIFA World Cup 2026. GUEST:  Ryan Propis, VP of Security and Facilitation, US Travel [https://www.ustravel.org/profile/ryan-propis] HOST: Lauren Clarke NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor PRODUCER: Adam Belmar Resource Links: * Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel Report [https://www.ustravel.org/sites/default/files/2025-02/Commission-on-Seamless-and-Secure-Travel-Report.pdf] * FIFA World Cup 26: Host countries, cities, dates, teams, tickets, qualifying and more [https://www.fifa.com/EN/TOURNAMENTS/MENS/WORLDCUP/CANADAMEXICOUSA2026/ARTICLES/FIFA-WORLD-CUP-2026-HOSTS-CITIES-DATES-USA-MEXICO-CANADA]

Host Lauren Clarke dives into major H-1B developments with immigration reporter Andrew Kreighbaum from Bloomberg Law. They discuss the Trump administration's proposed weighted selection rule that cleared White House review, which could fundamentally change the H-1B lottery system from random selection to wage-based allocation. The conversation also covers troubling trends of terminated H-1B workers receiving notices to appear during their grace periods, broader challenges facing foreign workers entering the US, and uncertainty surrounding F-1 student programs and OPT employment options. GUEST: Andrew Kreighbaum, Immigration Reporter, Bloomberg Law HOST: Lauren Clarke NEWS NERD: Rob Taylor PRODUCER: Adam Belmar Resource Links: * Trump DHS Proposes Limiting Foreign Students to Four Years in US [https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/dhs-proposal-would-limit-foreign-students-to-fixed-time-in-us] | Bloomberg Law, Reporter Andrew Kreighbaum, Aug. 27, 2025 * H-1B Worker Weighted Selection Rule Clears White House Review [https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/h-1b-worker-weighted-selection-rule-clears-white-house-review] | Bloomberg Law, Reporter Andrew Kreighbaum, Aug. 11, 2025

Host Lauren Clarke and immigration policy analyst Cecilia Esterline from the Niskanen Center break down the latest USCIS data on the Immigration Nerds. With an 18% drop in case completions and I-90 applications seeing 938% longer processing times, the numbers reveal unprecedented administrative strain. From I-765 work authorization backlogs jumping 181% to 450 USCIS employees reassigned to enforcement, we explore how 175 executive actions in 100 days are reshaping America's immigration system through data-driven analysis. Resource Links: Immigration Analysis from Cecilia Esterline, Niskanen Center [https://www.niskanencenter.org/author/cesterline/] Guest:  Cecilia Esterline, Senior Immigration Policy Analyst, Niskanen Center Host: Lauren Clarke News Nerd: Rob Taylor Producer: Adam Belmar

American farms are facing an unprecedented workforce crisis as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programs for multiple countries terminate this August, threatening to remove an estimated 76,000 agricultural workers from the labor force. But what does this mean for food security, rural economies, and the future of legal farm labor? Immigration Nerds Host, Lauren Clarke, is joined by immigration attorney LJ D'Arrigo to reveal how farms following the law through H-2A visa programs face greater penalties than those operating in gray areas, creating a dangerous compliance paradox. D'Arrigo breaks down the "August 5th cliff" – the simultaneous termination of TPS designations for Nepal, Cameroon, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Haiti – and explains why states like Florida (357,000 TPS holders) and Texas (124,000) will be hit hardest. While the Department of Labor signals potential H-2A streamlining efforts, the reality is stark: many longtime farm workers with decades of loyalty to their employers face impossible choices between self-deportation or living in the shadows. From the human cost of breaking up farm families to the economic impact of losing trained workers, this episode explores practical solutions farms can implement now, the enforcement climate creating fear even among legal workers, and why seasonal agricultural visas may be the one area where immigration reform is actually possible. Essential listening for anyone navigating the intersection of immigration policy and America’s food supply. GUEST: Leonard J D’Arrigo (LJ), Harris Beach Murtha Partner HOST: Lauren Clarke, EIG Senior Managing Attorney PRODUCER: Adam Belmar