WASHINGTON—The Heritage Foundation announced Wednesday that Joe Edlow is joining Heritage’s homeland security team as a visiting fellow. Edlow will contribute to the team’s efforts to undo the damage of the Biden border crisis, secure America’s borders, and reform our legal immigration system.
Edlow has an extensive, distinguished background in immigration policy. He most recently served as acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Prior to this position, he served as chief counsel for USCIS.
Before his time at USCIS, he worked on immigration issue in various capacities under the Trump administration, including with the executive office of the president and the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Policy. He served from 2008-2015 as assistant chief counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He possesses significant experience on Capitol Hill, as well, including stints with the House Judiciary Committee and former Rep. Raúl Labrador of Idaho.
James Carafano, vice president of Heritage’s Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, released the following statement about Edlow’s joining the Heritage team:
“President Biden has done incalculable damage to the United States’ immigration system, a system that has been broken for years thanks to the America-last decisions made for decades by elites in Washington and corporate America. Fixing our immigration system means stopping the damage of the Biden border crisis, securing America’s borders, and reforming our legal immigration system in a way that protects Americans and puts our interests first. We are thrilled to bring Joe on board as we lead the conservative movement in this critical effort. Those who believe we are a nation of laws, who are horrified by the crisis on the border, and who are ready for an immigration policy that makes sense should be excited about the work Joe is going to accomplish as part of the Heritage team.”
Lora Ries, Heritage senior research fellow and former acting DHS deputy chief of staff, also released a statement:
“The Biden border crisis is not just the worst border crisis our nation has ever faced—it is an existential crisis that threatens American sovereignty and security. Meanwhile, our legal immigration system suffers from out-of-date, unworkable, and unwise policies that often work against American interests. Now more than ever, we need credible voices like Joe’s working to shape and influence policy for the next Congress and presidential administration—hopefully a Congress and White House that will actually work to uphold the rule of law, support the men and women of federal law enforcement, and prioritize Americans.”
Edlow will join Heritage’s homeland security team, which includes Ries, former acting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) commissioner Mark Morgan, former acting ICE director Tom Homan, and former DHS oversight counsel Mike Howell.
For more information on the Biden border crisis, visit Heritage’s resource at TheBidenBorderCrisis.com. The website chronicles in one place the various actions the Biden administration has taken to open America’s southern border, undermine the rule of law, and mislead Americans about what is happening at the border.
