Washington, D.C. — Betsy Lawrence is joining the Center for American Progress as a senior fellow for Immigration Policy. Lawrence is currently senior counsel at Berry Appleman & Leiden and will continue at the firm while also serving as a senior fellow at CAP.
From February 2022 to January 2025, Lawrence served as deputy assistant to the president for immigration with the White House Domestic Policy Council, where she drove the implementation of the president’s domestic immigration policy agenda. Previously, she served as counsel and then chief counsel on the Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. There, Lawrence worked with committee leaders and staff to develop and execute the Democratic majority’s legislative agenda, including the American Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. She also drafted and solicited support for original legislation, including measures to facilitate STEM immigration, create a visa pathway for founders of startup companies, and reform the U.S. immigration court system.
Prior to her time with the House Judiciary Committee, Lawrence served as director of government relations with the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She began her career as an immigration attorney in San Francisco.
“Betsy has contributed to some of the most important pieces of immigration policy over the past decade,” said Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress. “I benefited greatly from her guidance while at the White House, and I couldn’t be more thrilled that she’ll be joining us at CAP.”
“CAP is a leader in advancing immigration policies that prioritize border security and expand pathways for legal immigration,” Lawrence added. “I have long respected and benefited from CAP’s thoughtful immigration analysis and policy positions. I am excited to officially join CAP and contribute to their work to reform our long-broken immigration system.”
For more information or to speak to an expert, contact Julia Cusick at [email protected].