Episode 7: The Role of States and Localities

About this episode

This episode discusses the influence of state and local governments on immigration policies and their interactions with federal enforcement.

This episode explores how state and local governments significantly impact immigrants through policies that either support or resist federal enforcement. Some jurisdictions implement sanctuary measures to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities and promote inclusion, such as offering in-state tuition to undocumented students. Under the Trump administration, there has been increased pressure on localities to participate in immigration enforcement, including efforts to penalize sanctuary jurisdictions through lawsuits, funding cuts, and legal threats. Our guest speaker is Muzzafar Chishti, Senior Fellow and Director, Migration Policy Institute office at NYU School of Law.

People in this episode

Guest: Muzzafar Chishti

Topics covered

• immigration
• state policies
• local governments
• federal enforcement
• sanctuary jurisdictions

Keywords

• inclusion
• undocumented students
• Trump administration
• sanctuary measures

More episodes of Unsettled: Immigration in Turbulent Times

• Season 2, Episode 5: Immigration Detention · March 20, 2026 · 55 min
• Season 2, Episode 4: Rights in the Era of ICE Raids · February 24, 2026 · 50 min
• Season 2, Episode 3: 'I’m an Immigration Lawyer. Trump Is Shattering My Clients’ Lives.' · January 27, 2026 · 43 min
• Season 2, Episode 2: H-1B Visas · January 13, 2026 · 44 min
• Season 2, Episode 1: The Trump Administration's War on Venezuelan Migrants · October 22, 2025 · 44 min
• Episode 10: The Democrats and Immigration · July 28, 2025 · 1h 9m