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Tech Innovations that Influence Immigration Policy
Technological innovations such as algorithmic matching can be an effective intervention in the growing demand for reforming immigration policy.
Takuya Kitazawa
May 12, 2025
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💖 This week's byte: Despite the growing trend in migration, relevant policies are often resistant to change. Technological innovations such as algorithmic matching can be an effective intervention that gives policymakers tangible data-driven insights.
📊 Did You Know?
According to a U.S. Census report, by 2022, the foreign-born population in the U.S. was estimated to be 46.2 million (13.9 percent) of the total U.S. population, and the number is on the rise. In its neighbor, Canada, meanwhile, the 2021 Census showed that about 8.3 million people, that is, 23.0% of the population, were foreign-born.
📖 The Story
Who, When, and Where — Context
Institutions like Stanford University’s Immigration Policy Lab (IPL) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) study technological innovations and interventions in immigration policies and immigrant resettlement in the U.S. and beyond, especially in the refugee context, e.g., those from Ukraine.
Why — Challenge
Policy-making and reformation require countless efforts from various stakeholders. U.S. immigration policy, for example, is considered resistant to change due to its political and geographical characteristics. Here, policy innovation in immigration can start from piloting tools and technologies that improve immigration policies and processes while allowing policymakers to make informed decisions.
What and How — Tech Solution
IPL’s GeoMatch, for instance, gives algorithmic recommendations for locations where newcomers can successfully settle in. As researchers examined the effectiveness of distributing immigrants through algorithmic location matching in the Canadian context, the technological innovation has the potential to make the placement and integration of newcomers more efficient, data-driven, and effective. Another type of innovation is a tool that efficiently and effectively transfers the necessary information to immigrants, like IRC’s Virtual Resettlement Line. Access to basic information and services can be further eased through the use of AI.
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💡 Key Insights
📜 Reforming pre-existing policy is a complex challenge that needs grassroots efforts.
📊 Rich historical data is a big asset to overcome policy problems in immigration, allowing researchers and practitioners to develop algorithmic tools and AIs.
🔦 Tech sheds light on the hidden potential of immigrants and refugees, equipping both newcomers and host communities with the tools and resources.
✅ Try This
Read the rest of the original story and see what kind of tech or non-tech initiatives exist to influence immigration policies.
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