Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On this episode, Nathan Goodman speaks with Abby Hall on the "boomerang effect," where U.S. military tools and tactics used abroad—like drones—are repurposed for domestic border enforcement. Hall discusses how restrictive immigration policies, such as the Secure Fence Act and Operation Streamline, often lead to unintended consequences like increased migrant deaths and overwhelmed asylum systems. She advocates for more open immigration pathways to improve both humanitarian outcomes and resource allocation. The conversation also highlights how past U.S. interventions in Latin America have contributed to current migration patterns and emphasizes the importance of humility and flexibility in policy research.
Dr. Abigail R. Hall (mercatus.org/scholars/abigail-r-hall) is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Tampa and a Senior Affiliated Scholar at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. She has published numerous books, including her most recent satirical book, How to Run Wars: A Confidential Playbook for the National Security Elite (mercatus.org/hayekprogram/research/books/how-run-wars-confidential-playbook-national-security-elite) co-authored with Christopher J. Coyne (2024). She holds a PhD in Economics from George Mason University and is an alum of the Mercatus PhD Fellowship.
Show Notes:
• Hall's article, "Border Fencing, Migrant Flows, and Crossing Deaths (aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pandp.20221023) "
• Hall's article, "The Unintended Consequences of U.S. Asylum Policy (tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10402659.2020.1836306#:~:text=The%20result%20has%20been%20more,immigration%20courts%20has%20risen%20dramatically.) "
If you like the show, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and tell others about the show! We're available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.
Virtual Sentiments (mercatus.org/hayekprogram/virtual-sentiments) , a podcast series from the Hayek Program, is streaming. Subscribe today and listen to season three, releasing now!
Follow the Hayek Program (twitter.com/hayekprogram) on Twitter: @HayekProgram
Learn more about Academic & Student Programs (asp.mercatus.org/)
Follow the Mercatus Center (twitter.com/mercatus) on Twitter: @mercatus
CC Music: Twisterium
On this episode, Nathan Goodman speaks with Abby Hall on the "boomerang effect," where U.S. military tools and tactics used abroad—like drones—are repurposed for domestic border enforcement. Hall discusses how restrictive immigration policies, such as the Secure Fence Act and Operation Streamline, often lead to unintended consequences like increased migrant deaths and overwhelmed asylum systems. She advocates for more open immigration pathways to improve both humanitarian outcomes and resource allocation. The conversation also highlights how past U.S. interventions in Latin America have contributed to current migration patterns and emphasizes the importance of humility and flexibility in policy research.
Dr. Abigail R. Hall (mercatus.org/scholars/abigail-r-hall) is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Tampa and a Senior Affiliated Scholar at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. She has published numerous books, including her most recent satirical book, How to Run Wars: A Confidential Playbook for the National Security Elite (mercatus.org/hayekprogram/research/books/how-run-wars-confidential-playbook-national-security-elite) co-authored with Christopher J. Coyne (2024). She holds a PhD in Economics from George Mason University and is an alum of the Mercatus PhD Fellowship.
Show Notes:
• Hall's article, "Border Fencing, Migrant Flows, and Crossing Deaths (aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pandp.20221023) "
• Hall's article, "The Unintended Consequences of U.S. Asylum Policy (tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10402659.2020.1836306#:~:text=The%20result%20has%20been%20more,immigration%20courts%20has%20risen%20dramatically.) "
If you like the show, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and tell others about the show! We're available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.
Virtual Sentiments (mercatus.org/hayekprogram/virtual-sentiments) , a podcast series from the Hayek Program, is streaming. Subscribe today and listen to season three, releasing now!
Follow the Hayek Program (twitter.com/hayekprogram) on Twitter: @HayekProgram
Learn more about Academic & Student Programs (asp.mercatus.org/)
Follow the Mercatus Center (twitter.com/mercatus) on Twitter: @mercatus
CC Music: Twisterium
