CSLS Speaker Series: “T​he Asymmetric Effects on Migration Policy Change”

Featuring David Hausman, Associate Professor of Law, Berkeley Law; Mary Hoopes, Associate Professor of Law, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law; and Anna Closas I Casasampera, Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science, UC Berkeley

Abstract: Drawing on over sixty interviews with migrants in eight shelters in Tijuana, Mexico City, and El Paso, we study the effects of frequently changing U.S. border policy in the early 2020s. We find an asymmetry: migrants were more likely to know of, and react to, new lawful pathways to enter the United States than new restrictions on asylum. In other words, policy changes were more successful at displacing migration than deterring it. In interviews, we learned several reasons for this asymmetry. Official information is not credible when negative—the U.S. government always tells migrants not to migrate—but is credible when positive. And positive announcements meant now was the time to migrate, but so did negative announcements—because things could get even worse. Asylum restrictions were typically complex, affecting some people but not others, but positive changes, such as new parole programs or CBPOne appointments, were relatively simple. Finally, the step-by-step nature of the long journey from Central America (or farther) to the U.S. border heightened the asymmetry: migrants tended to gain information about complex asylum restrictions over the course of their journey, as their incentives not to turn back mounted.

Cosponsored with the Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice and the Berkeley Interdisciplinary Migration Initiative

PLACE       In-Person at 2240 Piedmont Ave in the Philip Selznick Seminar Room and Livestreamed via
                     Zoom. Light refreshments will be provided.

TIME          Reception: Lunch 12:15-12:45 p.m. in the Kadish Library 
                     Program: 12:45-2:00 p.m. in the Philip Selznick Seminar Room

INFO           csls.berkeley.edu

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If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) to fully participate in this event, please contact csls@law.berkeley.edu with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days in advance of the event.