Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Listen to the full episode here: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/founders-focus-on-naturalization-and-migration-echoes-today/

The Declaration of Independence accused the British Crown of obstructing naturalization and restricting migration to the colonies, grievances that feel especially relevant today.

On this episode of Democracy in Question, host Katie Dunn Tenpas sits down with Brookings senior fellows Rashawn Ray and Scott Anderson to trace how American values around immigration and naturalization have evolved since 1776, and what the Founders’ concerns tell us about today’s debates.

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