PODCAST · news
Immigration Nerds
by Erickson Immigration Group
EIG is a leading corporate immigration law firm, providing comprehensive business immigration, global migration, and compliance solutions that enable companies to hire the best and brightest talent worldwide. Founded in 1987 and immigration practice started in 1998, EIG has over 25 years of experience delivering its signature 'Perfect Plus' service — dedicated legal teams offering remarkable results, clear communication, innovative technology systems, and the highest level of information and data security. EIG partners with clients to "get to yes."
Episodes
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The Embassy Chef: Every Day's a Learning Day
What is a plate of food supposed to do in a room full of diplomats? Make the room go quiet. Craig Harnden was seven when he asked his mother what you call someone who cooks for a living. From packet cake mixes in a Bristol kitchen, he went on to Michelin-starred kitchens in England — including...
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The Belonging Book Club
What if the thing an immigration lawyer did all month was lunch? Once a month, on a Sunday, a group of AILA DC attorneys and paralegals sits down at a restaurant chosen to match the book they have all just read — a Salvadoran kitchen for Jonathan Blitzer’s Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here, Dominican...
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H-2A Wage Bombshell
The wage floor for H-2A got rewritten on August 3, 2026, and farm workers stand to lose up to $5.4 billion a year. The worker protection rule is rescinded, demand is at a record high, and a federal court just called the whole thing unlawful. LJ D'Arrigo, Immigration Practice Leader at Harris…
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What the Birth Tourism Order Means at the Visa Window
On June 30th, the Supreme Court struck down the president's birthright citizenship order 6–3 in Trump v. Barbara, with Chief Justice Roberts writing that children born to parents unlawfully or temporarily present here are citizens at birth. Six weeks later, two new executive orders arrived — one...
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Duration of Status: What Changes September 15
For nearly 50 years, international students could stay in the United States as long as they continued to make progress in their programs. No fixed deadline. A PhD candidate who needed a sixth year could take it. A doctor could finish a residency and move into a fellowship. An adviser at the…
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The TPS Deadline Chaos — What It Actually Means
Work permits for TPS holders from Haiti, Syria, and five other countries expire July 17th and 24th — dates that have already shifted twice. Plenty of shows are re-litigating the Supreme Court's ruling. We're asking a harder question: what actually happens right now to the workers and businesses...
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Forbes 250: Inside America's Most Successful Living Immigrants List
As America counts down to its 250th birthday, Forbes is counting something else: the 250 most successful living immigrants in the country. In this episode, host Lauren Clarke sits down with Forbes Senior Editor Alex Knapp, co-editor of the new Forbes 250: America's Most Successful Living…
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Who’s Watching the Pool? The J-1 Visa and America's Lifeguard Problem
Your neighborhood pool may be short-staffed this summer — and the reason probably isn't what you think. Lauren Clarke sits down with Mark Overmann, Executive Director of the Alliance for International Exchange, to unpack the quiet crisis hitting seasonal businesses from the Jersey Shore to the...
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Family Speaks Every Language
What if the most powerful immigration story you heard this week came from a picture book? Jacqueline Alcantara is a first-generation American and award-winning illustrator who has lived the experiences she draws. She's the author of Tíos and Primos — a children's book pulled from her own…
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Ready for Kickoff? FIFA 2026 Update
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicking off in roughly four weeks, Immigration Nerds welcomes back Ryan Propis, Vice President of Security and Facilitation at the US Travel Association, for a progress report on US readiness. Since his September appearance, a lot has changed — visa wait times are…
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Understanding the H-1B Realities: A Simulation Built from Real Immigrant Stories
What if the H-1B visa experience — the lottery, the waiting, the uncertainty about whether to buy a sofa or commit to a relationship — could be experienced in a game? Journalist and game developer Alison Yang did exactly that. Yang talks to Immigration Nerds host, Lauren Clarke, about her…
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Ireland's Immigration Conundrum
A confidential government paper recently surfaced in Ireland with a striking conclusion: the country needs migration to keep hospitals open, taxes flowing, and its economy afloat — even as public pressure mounts to tighten the rules. Host Lauren Clarke sits down with Katie McDermott, Managing...
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One Year In — AILA Proposes A Better Way on Immigration
One year into the current administration's immigration agenda, the American Immigration Lawyers Association has done the accounting — and the findings are striking. In this episode, Lauren Clarke sits down with Shev Dalal-Dheini, AILA's Senior Director of Government Relations, to walk through the...
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Demographic Winter: Why the Midwest Needs Immigration to Survive
The American Midwest is facing an existential threat—not from outside forces, but from within. Population decline, aging communities, and shrinking tax bases are creating what researcher Dr. Jonathan Burkham calls a "demographic winter." But there's a solution hiding in plain sight: immigration.…
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Olympic Dreams and Immigration Realities
As the 2026 Winter Olympics approach, Immigration Nerds explores the hidden immigration stories behind Team USA's more than 230 athletes heading to Italy. Immigration researcher Marissa Kiss from George Mason University reveals that nearly 17% of Team USA has direct immigrant ties—including...
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End of the H-1B Lottery: Understanding Wage-Weighted Selection
The H-1B program just underwent its most significant structural change in decades. On December 29, 2025, DHS issued a final rule replacing the random H-1B lottery with a wage-weighted selection system—and it takes effect February 27, just before the fiscal year 2027 cap registration season opens…
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Inspiring Immigration Stories Of 2025
Immigration isn't just about headlines—it's about Nobel laureates, World Series MVPs, and medical breakthroughs that save lives. In this year’s end special, Lauren Clarke welcomes back Forbes senior contributor Stuart Anderson to preview his annual "Most Inspiring Immigration Stories" article.…
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2025: The Year That Reshaped Immigration Policy
2025 marked an unprecedented transformation in U.S. immigration policy. Executive orders attempting to end birthright citizenship, expand travel bans, and suspend refugee programs— along with the chaotic H-1B fee proclamation — fundamentally reshaped both legal and humanitarian immigration...
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Beyond Borders: Why Cultural Exchange Still Matters
Beyond the headlines about the workforce and the economy lies a visa category designed for something deeper: human connection. In this episode, Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke explores the J-1 Cultural Exchange Program with Lisa Murray, Director of the Exchange Program at the American...
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Perfect Storm: H-2A Visas, Government Shutdown, and the Fight to Feed America
American farms are in crisis. The federal government shutdown froze H-2A visa processing right when farmers need to prepare for planting season. At the same time, major changes to how farm worker wages are calculated are making everything more complicated. Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke…
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"The Day I Realized I Was An Immigrant"
In this powerful episode of Immigration Nerds, host Lauren Clarke speaks with Hendrika de Vries, author of the new book "Open Turns," about her remarkable journey from surviving World War II in occupied Amsterdam to becoming a champion swimmer and finding her identity as a 13-year-old immigrant…
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H-1B Proclamation & Changes Special Report
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...
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The Beautiful Game Meets Border Security: FIFA World Cup 2026
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…
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How New H-1B Rules Could Reshape Foreign Worker Entry to the US
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...
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USCIS By The Numbers When Policy Meets Administrative Reality
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...
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August 5th Cliff: How Humanitarian Parole and TPS Terminations Are Reshaping American Agriculture
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…
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Canada's Immigration Shifts
Canada's immigration landscape is undergoing a significant shift. But what does this mean for students, skilled workers, and families hoping to build their lives there? Immigration Nerds Host, Lauren Clarke, delves into the significant policy changes affecting thousands of temporary and permanent...
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An Independence Day Reflection: The Journey to American Citizenship
In this newest episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, we explore what it truly means to become an American. Host Lauren Clarke talks to author Rajani LaRocca, whose latest children's book "Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States," offers a poignant look at the immigration and...
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Immigration Solutions for America's Care Workforce Crisis
America faces a critical shortage in its care workforce, the millions of workers who provide childcare, elder care, and support for people with disabilities. With 9 million job openings expected in direct care over the next decade and an aging population that will see 89 million Americans over 65...
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Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History
Discover the hidden culinary history of Asian heritage chefs who've served U.S. presidents. Host Lauren Clarke welcomes food historian Adrian Miller and chef Deborah Chang, co-authors of "Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History: Cooking to the President's Taste." From Lee Ping Quan's...
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How Immigration Impacts the Solvency and Sustainability of Social Security
In this episode of the Immigration Nerds Podcast, we explore how immigration directly impacts the solvency and sustainability of Social Security with economist Dr. Tara Watson, Director of the Center for Economic Security and Opportunity at the Brookings Institution. As America faces an aging...
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Eight Days Too Late: A Tech Leader's Extraordinary Immigration Journey
What does it feel like to miss your green card approval by just eight days after waiting for nearly a decade? In this compelling episode, we follow KC Lakshminarasimham's 16-year odyssey through America's labyrinthine immigration system. From his unexpected arrival in the U.S. during the 2008...
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The View from Here: Navigating Business Immigration 90 Days into Trump's Second Term
In this timely episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, host Lauren Clarke is joined by Erickson Immigration Group partners, Rob Taylor and Alejandra Zapatero, to analyze the immigration landscape 90 days into President Trump's second administration. GUEST: Alejandra Zapatero, Erickson…
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Between Two Worlds: Composer Kevin Charoensri's Rising Light
In this compelling episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, we speak with composer Kevin Charoensri, whose dream opportunity to have his music performed by "The President's Own" United States Marine Band was abruptly canceled by a presidential executive order restricting diversity initiatives....
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Maximizing America's Potential: The Bush Institute's Blueprint for Immigration Reform
In this episode of Immigration Nerds, host Lauren Clarke sits down with Laura Collins, Director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, to explore their 2025 policy recommendations on immigration reform. Collins presents a compelling economic case for modernizing America's…
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"Our American Dream" - An Immigration Story in Rhyme
In this episode of Immigration Nerds, host Lauren Clarke explores how Fiona McEntee's children's book "Our American Dream" finally has its moment five years after its original release. As immigration continues to dominate headlines in February 2025, this collection of positive immigration stories...
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Immigration Safe at School
In an era of shifting immigration policies, how can schools protect their most vulnerable students? This urgent episode features Luma Mufleh, founder of Fugees Family Inc., who has created a groundbreaking School Crisis Playbook for deportation response. Drawing from her personal experience as a...
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Immigration and the New Executive Orders
Immigration Nerds host Lauren Clarke talks with Erickson Immigration Group partners Alejandra Zapatero and Hiba Anver about President Trump's new executive orders on immigration following his second-term inauguration on January 20, 2025. They break down three major changes: potential new travel...
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StreetWise Partners and the Importance of Mentorship in the Immigration Story
January is National Mentoring month, and in this episode of Immigration Nerds, we explore StreetWise Partners' transformative mentorship program helping underemployed job seekers, particularly immigrants and first-generation Americans, navigate the U.S. job market. CEO Shari Krull discusses how...
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Inspiring Immigration Stories Of 2024
Forbes senior contributor Stuart Anderson joins host Lauren Clarke to discuss his article highlighting 2024's most inspiring immigration stories. Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation for American Policy, shares remarkable stories, including Albert Oso Asari, a Ghanaian tech...
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From Debate to Innovation: Meet the High School Student Revolutionizing Immigration Policy
In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Tarun Batchu, a remarkable high school junior from Powell, Ohio, who has developed an innovative algorithm that could transform how we approach immigration policy. As the child of Indian immigrants, Tarun's personal connection to immigration inspired…
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Immigration Travel Tips: Before You Take Off
Erickson Immigration Group Partner Rob Taylor joins Immigration Nerds Host Lauren Clarke to discuss what preparations visa holders need to make before they embark on international travel at the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. Hit play to learn what essential documents you need to have in...
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Immigration Policy at the Crossroads: A Conversation with Shev Dalal-Dheini
In this episode of Immigration Nerds, host Lauren Clarke speaks with Shev Dalal-Dheini, Senior Director of Government Relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), about the evolving landscape of legal immigration in 2024. They discuss recent H-1B reforms, increased filing…
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Australia's Impending Immigration Changes
Immigration Nerds explores Australia's impending changes to the Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage Visa Program. Host Lauren Clarke is joined by Erickson Immigration Group's Martin Russell and Catherine Thomas from Melbourne for an explainer on the Subclass 482, and potential benefits and...
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H-2A Visas and Worker Protections
The labor shortage facing America’s farmers and ranchers is persistent and costly. The H-2A visa program for temporary agricultural workers is a critical option for this business. Host Lauren Clarke is joined by immigration attorney L.J. D'Arrigo to explain the H-2A program's purpose…
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From Australia: Food of Immigrants Colombo Social
Discover how a Sri Lankan immigrant's love for his mother's cooking sparked a culinary revolution in Sydney. Shaun Christie-David's Colombo Social isn't just serving up delicious dishes – it's changing lives. From empowering refugees to bridging cultural divides, learn how food is becoming a...
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The Hart-Celler Act at 60 Reshaping American Immigration
In this special episode of the Immigration Nerds Podcast, host Lauren Clarke welcomes renowned UCLA law professor Hiroshi Motomura for an in-depth discussion on the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, also known as the Hart-Celler Act. Professor Motomura provides a detailed analysis of this...
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AI and Immigration Progress and Promise
In October 2023, President Biden issued the "Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence" with special actions related to immigration and the advancement of AI. This newest episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast looks at how President...
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Summer's Immigration Policy Shake-Up
In this episode of Immigration Nerds, host Lauren Clarke and Erickson Immigration Group attorneys Andy Finkle and Kai Bostock discuss three major immigration policy changes announced in June 2024. They break down President Biden's executive orders on asylum seekers, new work visa processes for…
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Diaspora Stories: Supporting STEM Education in Somaliland
In this episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast, we hear the inspiring story of two expats from Somaliland who are transforming lives through education. Asha Farah, founder of the Burao Academy of Science & Technology, and Yasmin Mirreh, EIG Senior Attorney and volunteer and advocate, talk about...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
EIG is a leading corporate immigration law firm, providing comprehensive business immigration, global migration, and compliance solutions that enable companies to hire the best and brightest talent worldwide. Founded in 1987 and immigration practice started in 1998, EIG has over 25 years of experience delivering its signature 'Perfect Plus' service — dedicated legal teams offering remarkable results, clear communication, innovative technology systems, and the highest level of information and data security. EIG partners with clients to "get to yes."
HOSTED BY
Erickson Immigration Group
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Immigration Nerds have?
Immigration Nerds currently has 200 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Immigration Nerds about?
EIG is a leading corporate immigration law firm, providing comprehensive business immigration, global migration, and compliance solutions that enable companies to hire the best and brightest talent worldwide. Founded in 1987 and immigration practice started in 1998, EIG has over 25 years of...
How often does Immigration Nerds release new episodes?
Immigration Nerds publishes regularly with 200 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Immigration Nerds?
You can listen to Immigration Nerds on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Immigration Nerds?
Immigration Nerds is created and hosted by Erickson Immigration Group.
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