6:30 p.m.
Immigration has become an increasingly controversial and salient issue in contemporary American politics. This lecture delves into understanding the current moment through a lens of major shifts in public opinion and elite rhetoric, changes in enforcement policies, rising polarization, and the dominance of misinformation and stereotypes on immigration and immigrants. Each of these themes is connected to the increasing importance of immigration politics in campaigns and elections, and how politicians appeal to voters in this domain. Central to this discussion is the manifestation of rhetoric, policies, and enforcement during the second Trump administration and public responses, mobilization, and rapidly changing public opinion on the issue. Finally, the lecture puts forth the argument that in understanding contemporary immigration politics it is critical to place it in a broader historical landscape that pre-dates the Trump era.
Registration opens September 9, 2026.
Biography:
Sophia Jord谩n Wallace is a Professor in the Department of Political Science and the Stuart A. and Lee D.听Scheingold听Endowed Faculty Fellow in Social Justice at the 天美影院 in Seattle. She specializes in the study of the politics of race and ethnicity, Latino politics, immigration politics and policy, public opinion, and legislative politics.听
She is the co-author of a book entitled,听Walls, Cages, and Family Separation: Race and Immigration Policy in the Trump Era,听which analyzed public opinion towards signature immigration policies implemented by Trump during his first administration. She is currently the Director of the Washington Institute for the Study of Inequality and Race (WISIR). Outside of academic work, she is an avid birder and gardener and enjoys exploring the beauty and wonders of the Pacific Northwest.听
Department Sponsors:听The Graduate School, Department of听Political Science