Experts in the News

“They’re not huge steps, but they make a big difference in the lives of many, many people,” Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico said of President Biden’s initial actions on immigration.

Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico, shared his analysis. Payan is the Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies.

Fellow Tony Payan participated in a documentary on the benefits of creating an ID and tax system for unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. "We don’t have visas for the workers that our economy often needs,” said Payan, who added that allowing such workers to obtain work permits and protection from deportation would increase their productivity. Payan is the Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies.

Early evidence shows that thousands crossed the U.S.-Mexico border for the holidays. The lack of tougher COVID-19 travel restrictions, warned Tony Payan, the director of the Center for the U.S. and Mexico, will "create a very serious problem in January."

"It is, so far, all American taxpayers' money," said fellow Tony Payan of funds for the border wall and President Trump's repeated claims that Mexico would pay for it. Payan is the Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies.