Stephanie Leutert

My @StraussCenter @TheLBJSchool students wrote four reports about migration along the US-Mexico border. Here is the first one on California. It tracks clandestine migration routes, migrant risk and mortality, and smuggler demographics in the region. strausscenter.org/publications/c…

Breaking News: A judge ruled that President Trump can’t categorically deny asylum, rejecting his claim that extraordinary powers were needed at the border. nyti.ms/4nsIt2i

The May 2025 @StraussCenter Asylum Processing report with @Sleutert is out. This is the 7th major enforcement and asylum policy change at the U.S. southern border since 2018 and the second phase where asylum processing has been almost exclusively closed at the border.

Much has been written over the past few weeks re: the impact of Trump’s #immigration raids on ag businesses. But in April, @yatescait & I wrote, “Expanding the #H2A visa program is the most sensible path forward to ensuring America’s food security.” riograndeguardian.com/garza-yates-tr…

Great work to this year's "Clandestine Migration Along the U.S. Mexico Border" policy research project teams on on their research presentations this week. We look forward to reading your findings! #StraussCAMPI @theLBJSchool @SLeutert

This will be in tomorrow's Border Update but deserves its own separate post: Profiles of 15 young Venezuelan men shipped off to El Salvador's prisons last Saturday. None of them seem to be gang members—not at all. Post is here, with links to sources: adamisacson.com/who-did-the-tr…

Thousands run from cartels in Mexico to claim asylum in the US, but their success rate is very low - 16.6% last years compared to 88 % success for Afghanis. Yet to be seen if designating cartels as terrorists will make judges more sympathetic to those who claim to run from them.

5/8 There were 18 flights to Guantanamo, 17 on military planes from Biggs in El Paso. All the passengers from the first 13 planes (177) were ultimately removed on 2 traditional ICE Air charters and delivered to 1 Venezuelan plane for a return. 15 US flights – only 1 Venezuelan…

The migrants being held in Guantánamo were flown to Honduras and then boarded onto planes back to Venezuela today. DHS described them as the "worst of the worst," though records and relatives for several detainees cast doubt on that claim. @SilviaElenaFF washingtonpost.com/immigration/20…

Aboard the 2 flights that deported 190 people to Caracas last week were 2 who had deserted #Venezuela’s military. The Trump admin just handed them to the dictatorship. The feared Interior Minister says, “They are being given the appropriate treatment.” efectococuyo.com/politica/dos-m…

On Wednesday, U.S. officials began flying hundreds of people - including families with small children - to Panama. On the flight, children cried & a woman fainted. Now on the ground, Panamanian authorities says it will hold them in a camp in the Darien: nytimes.com/2025/02/18/wor…

Congratulations to #StraussCAMPI Director @SLeutert for her recognition as one of Washington Post's Next 50 for her essential work in migration policy on our southern border. Learn more about the honor here: wapo.st/41i1wTS 📸: Cathlin McCullough

Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation vs six Mexican drug cartels would land WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 19TH, according to official Govt document cited by @IldefonsoOrtiz 👇