Austin Kocher

Austin Kocher is a professor at Syracuse University who studies America's immigration enforcement system. He can be reached at ackocher@syr.edu.

Expert Commentary

Criminal Justice, Politics & Government

287(g): The program that lets state and local police perform the functions of federal immigration officers

by Austin Kocher | April 30, 2025

“In the span of about two months, the Trump administration radically expanded the 287(g) program beyond anything I have seen in the past 15 years of close study of this precise policy,” writes immigration scholar Austin Kocher.

Expert Commentary

Politics & Government

ICE’s recent detention data: What journalists need to understand

by Austin Kocher | April 21, 2025

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detained population flatlined in April, but there’s more to the numbers than meets the eye. It’s time to level up our understanding of detention data.

Health, Politics & Government

Medicaid: A guide to understanding and covering potential cuts to the program

April 30, 2025

To help finance trillions of dollars in tax cuts, Congressional Republicans are looking to cut hundreds of billions of dollars in spending, which could impact Medicaid. We provide background, resources and research on the policies under consideration.

Expert Commentary

Politics & Government

ICE’s recent detention data: What journalists need to understand

April 21, 2025

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detained population flatlined in April, but there’s more to the numbers than meets the eye. It’s time to level up our understanding of detention data.

Health, Politics & Government

Childhood vaccines: What research shows about their safety and potential side effects

February 26, 2025

In this piece, we share reporting tips, explain how vaccine side effects are tracked in the U.S., and discuss research on the safety of childhood vaccines.