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Migration Policy Institute Podcasts

Migration Policy Institute Podcasts

Migration Policy Institute 150 episodes Latest May 26, 2026

MPI discusses interesting developments and seek to peer around the corner on pressing migration topics in conversations with top experts.

Episodes

World of Migration: When Sports and U.S. Immigration Policy Collide Jun 2, 2026 1697 The FIFA 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is the largest in history and first to be co-organized by three countries. Yet for international fans, ever stricter U.S. immigration admissions and enforcement policies have introduced layers of uncertainty around whether they can attend at all. In this episode of World of Migration, host Ariel G. Ruiz Soto speaks with v
Changing Climate, Changing Migration: Climate Change Is Making People Sick. Can Migration Help? May 26, 2026 2051 Climate change can be devastating for individuals’ health and safety. Climate-linked natural disasters can cause physical injuries and damage health-care systems, while slow-onset changes such as sea-level rise can lead to the spread of disease and make it harder for people to obtain care. In that context, leaving a climate-vulnerable place can potentially lead to better health outcomes—but only u
World of Migration: America’s Closing Door: Where Do Cuban Migrants Go Now? May 18, 2026 2509 Cuba is facing one of its deepest economic crises in decades, and the United States has significantly narrowed the legal pathways that once made it the primary destination for Cuban migrants. As a result, migration patterns are shifting across the Americas in ways the region is not yet prepared to manage. In this episode of World of Migration, host Valerie Lacarte speaks with María José Espinosa C
Changing Climate, Changing Migration | Priced Out: Climate Change, Home Insurance, and the People Stuck in the Middle Apr 23, 2026 1867 Climate change is making home insurance more expensive and less available, as the multibillion-dollar losses caused by hurricanes, wildfires, and other disasters increase in scale. Rising insurance premiums can push some people to relocate or force others to either pay more money to remain in their home or go without insurance and risk catastrophe if disaster strikes. Residents, insurance companie
Changing Climate, Changing Migration: First Displacement, then Disasters: How Refugees Contend with Climate Change Apr 9, 2026 1816 Refugees are often some of the people most vulnerable to climate change. After fleeing armed conflict or persecution, many refugees end up in camps located in rural areas, with few resources and little support. That can leave them vulnerable to floods, storms, extreme heat, or other impacts of climate change. This episode focuses on these impacts, with insights from Ayoo Irene Hellen, a South Suda
World of Migration: Why Is Immigration Policy So Hard to Get Right? Apr 2, 2026 1691 Why has immigration become so politically divisive – and why is it so difficult for governments to design policies that satisfy both public concerns and economic needs? In this episode, MPI’s Meghan Benton speaks with Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford and a member of the UK's Migration Advisory Committee. Drawing on insights from her new book, Wh
State and Local Language Access Efforts Amid Federal Policy Shifts Mar 24, 2026 3791 Nearly 28 million U.S. residents, more than half of whom are U.S. citizens, reported limited proficiency in English as of 2023. How government agencies at all levels communicate with multilingual publics can have significant consequences for public safety and emergency responses, access to public information and services, community well-being, and the overall effectiveness of government programs.
The ESSA Waiver Landscape and Implications for K-12 English Learners Mar 23, 2026 3641 As states begin to take up the U.S. Secretary of Education’s offer to apply for waivers to their obligations under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, there are significant implications for English Learner (EL) students around the country. In July 2025, the U.S. Department of Education issued a letter encouraging states to seek waivers to their federal mandate to improve student academi
Meeting Labor Skill Needs While Expanding Refugee Protection Mar 23, 2026 3674 As humanitarian protection needs grow amid near-record displacement globally, labor migration pathways offer another route to safety and stability for qualified refugees while helping meet destination countries’ skill needs. In practice, however, qualified refugees can struggle to qualify for work visas due to poorly designed frameworks or operational practices. The circumstances of their displace
World of Migration: The Role of Immigration as South Korea Navigates Demographic Decline Feb 25, 2026 1130 With the world’s lowest fertility rate and one of the fastest-aging populations, South Korea is confronting a shrinking workforce and mounting economic pressures. Immigration has become part of the policy conversation, but questions remain about how much it can help and how Korean society will adapt to diversity. In this World of Migration episode, our Lawrence Huang speaks with Juyoung Jang, chie
Changing Climate, Changing Migration: Climate Displacement from Indigenous Lands Feb 23, 2026 1460 Many Indigenous people have a deep connection to their ancestral homelands that dates back centuries. What happens when climate change and other factors force them to move away from those lands? This episode discusses issues affecting Indigenous people, especially in the Americas. Our guest is environmental scientist Jessica Hernandez, a climate justice and Indigenous advocate. She discusses the f
Migration amid Climate Change: Adaptation, Displacement, and People Trapped in Place Jan 28, 2026 3644 Climate change is driving and altering migration in a variety of ways. Patterns of human movement often differ in the face of fast-moving environmental disasters such as floods and wildfires, versus slow-onset changes including extreme heat, drought, and sea-level rise. Other factors, including the resilience of a community’s infrastructure and their dependence on agricultural livelihoods, can hel

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