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March 13, 2025

U.S. Immigration Policy: Challenges, Opportunities, and Security Implications

Event Series: U.S. Policy Toward Latin America from a National Security Perspective

Bridge

This seminar series “U.S. Policy Toward Latin America from a National Security Perspective” explores the complex dynamics of U.S. national security interests in Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing the interplay between regional and global factors such as  great power competition with China and Russia, as well as the region's place in the Global South. Participants will engage with historical and contemporary security challenges, U.S. foreign policy strategies, and the roles of external actors within a global context. In addition, the series will explore the historical context of U.S. national security interests in Latin America and the Caribbean; analyze key security issues facing the region, including political instability, organized crime, and transnational threats; assess the impact of globalization and great power competition on U.S.-Latin American relations; evaluate the role of multilateral organizations and regional partnerships in addressing security concerns; and explore case studies that illustrate the complexities of U.S. engagement in the region. 

In this discussion, we will focus on U.S. immigration policy as a critical component of its national security strategy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Migration flows from the region are driven by political instability, economic inequality, climate change, and violence, creating challenges for both the United States and its neighbors. Participants will discuss the intersections of immigration policy with humanitarian concerns, border security, and regional stability.

This event is open only to Georgetown University students, faculty, and staff.

Featuring

Juan S. Gonzalez is a resident fellow at the Georgetown Americas Institute. He previously served in senior positions in the Obama and Biden Administrations at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation as senior advisor to the CEO, at the Department of State as deputy assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, and at the White House as special assistant to the president and National Security Council senior director for the Western Hemisphere. Gonzalez has an M.A. (with distinction) from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.