The Baldy Center Blog Post 51 
Blog Author: Claudia B. Villegas Ramos, LLM candidate
Blog Title: Rethinking Immigration: Insights from Hiroshi Motomura

On September 5, 2025, The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy hosted Distinguished Speaker Hiroshi Motomura’s presentation “Borders and Belonging: What Is Fair Immigration Policy in the Year 2025?” Motomura shared insights from his latest book, Borders and Belonging: Toward a Fair Immigration Policy (Oxford 2025). As a leading scholar in immigration and citizenship law at UCLA, Motomura offered a nuanced exploration of what fair immigration policy could look like in today’s complex political climate, addressing questions about national borders, belonging, and the future of immigration in the United States and globally. 

Immigration debates in the United States are often framed in stark terms: security versus openness, rights versus restrictions. Yet, immigration law expert Hiroshi Motomura proposes a more hopeful perspective. Motomura challenged us to rethink not just who belongs in America but how we talk about belonging, enforcement, and integration in ways that can shape a fairer immigration future.

One key insight Motomura shared is the gap in immigration discourse when it comes to acknowledging the voices of those who have lived in the U.S. for generations but don’t fit the stereotypical “American” image often evoked in political rhetoric. These communities feel excluded not just legally but culturally and socially. To address this, Motomura argues, we need to amplify a vocabulary of belonging that complements the language of universal human rights. It’s not just about who should be allowed in, but about recognizing those who have already made the United States their home, and affirming their place. This focus on belonging requires moving past simplistic stereotypes and recognizing the complexity of identity in immigrant communities. It also challenges policies that use immigration enforcement or birthright citizenship debates as tools to marginalize people who have deep historical roots in the country.

Moving from the question of belonging to enforcement, Motomura talked about the difficult balance between protecting national security and welcoming those seeking refuge or opportunity. He critiques the current enforcement approach, which often relies on measures fueled by fear of drugs, crime, or terrorism. These policies frequently paint immigrants unfairly as criminals and result in detaining immigrants who don’t even have criminal records. Instead, he suggests a more targeted strategy: focus enforcement efforts precisely where harm exists, rather than conflating all immigrants with security threats. Moreover, addressing the root causes of migration and crime requires broader policy solutions beyond border enforcement alone.

In addition to enforcement, Motomura emphasizes the urgent need to overhaul the U.S. asylum and humanitarian protection system. He analyzes how temporary protected statuses and parole programs often become de facto permanent situations because the underlying causes of migration, like violence or economic difficulties, remain unaddressed. He urges rethinking how temporary and permanent protections interact and how to better address root causes globally, for a more sustainable and just system.

Perhaps the most compelling part of Motomura’s vision lies in his focus on integration as a multi-generational, respectful process that builds belonging over time. Integration isn’t simply about immediate assimilation or meeting certain requirements; it’s about creating conditions where immigrant communities feel genuinely included and valued. He warns against coercive models of integration, which have historically led to alienation and separatism. Instead, he calls for integration policies that respect cultural differences and acknowledge the evolving identities of immigrant families through generations. This approach also ties into a powerful reimagining of citizenship.

Challenging the traditional view of citizenship as a "merit badge" earned after proving worthiness, Motomura proposes treating citizenship as a vehicle to belonging, a means to include immigrants fully, rather than a prize granted after meeting certain benchmarks. Historically, there were moments in U.S. history when immigrants were welcomed more openly upon arrival, allowed to claim belonging early on. Revisiting this idea could transform immigration policy into a tool for genuine inclusion, he proposes.

Ultimately, Motomura’s presentation is a call to action for advocates, policymakers, and citizens to develop new vocabularies and narratives that speak to both fairness and belonging. These narratives must resonate across generations and political divides, recognizing the complexity of immigrant experiences and the nation’s evolving identity.

In a time of polarized immigration debates, Motomura’s approach reminds us that immigration policy isn’t just about laws and borders, it’s about people, identity, and community. To build a fairer future, we must rethink how we enforce laws, offer protection, and welcome new US citizens, always with an eye toward belonging that spans generations. If we can shift our language and policies accordingly, we may find a path that honors both the country’s history and its promise as a land of opportunity for all.