MPI holds 23rd annual conference in November

The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) is set to hold its 23rd Annual Immigration Law and Policy Conference on November 16, 2026, bringing together leading experts, policymakers, attorneys and advocates to examine major immigration policy and legal developments in the United States.

The conference will take place at Georgetown University’s main campus in Washington, D.C., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, with a livestream available for virtual participants.

According to the organisers, registration is now open for both in-person and virtual attendance.

The conference will feature policy analysis and discussions on some of the most significant immigration issues in the United States, including federal enforcement measures, legal immigration, the role of the courts and the effects of changing policies on immigrant communities.

David Holt, Mayor of Oklahoma City and immediate past president of the United States Conference of Mayors, will deliver the keynote address.

One of the panel discussions, titled *“State of Play: Immigration Policy at a Tipping Point?”*, will examine how federal immigration policy and enforcement changes have been received by US courts and the public.

The session will also explore historical parallels with the current immigration policy climate and consider how the outcomes of the midterm elections could influence future policy directions.

Another panel, *“The Era of Pervasive Enforcement,”* will examine the growing reach of immigration enforcement agencies and their state and local partners.

Discussions will focus on the expanded application of existing legal authorities, including provisions introduced under the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act and measures associated with the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The panel will also examine the increasing use of surveillance technologies, access to sensitive federal and consumer databases, and additional financial resources allocated to immigration enforcement. Participants will consider the implications of these developments and the prospects for a more balanced US immigration approach.

The conference will also address the future of legal immigration in the face of demographic changes, labour-market demands and policy restrictions.

The session, *“Legal Immigration in an Age of Demographic, Skill, and Policy Change,”* will explore declining birth rates, an ageing workforce and growing demand for specific skills against the backdrop of immigration bans, processing delays and rising application fees.

It will further consider how changes in immigration policy affect employers, workforce development and US competitiveness.

A fourth panel, *“Impacts on Communities and Providers in a Period of Dramatic Change,”* will examine the consequences of increased immigration enforcement and changes to immigration, healthcare and education policies.

The discussion will focus on the experiences of immigrants and their families, as well as the challenges facing legal service providers and organisations working with asylum seekers, immigration detainees and other affected populations.

The organisers said the conference agenda provides further details about the sessions, with additional information expected ahead of the event.

The annual gathering is expected to provide a platform for examining the legal, economic and social implications of US immigration policy and the challenges confronting immigrants, employers and service providers.

Interested participants can register for either in-person or virtual attendance through the Migration Policy Institute’s events platform.