A central objective of the IIH is to increase knowledge about the consequences of immigration policy on children, families, and communities and to offer research driven recommendations  to immigration policy and practice.

The IIH supports the production and dissemination of rigorous, nonpartisan and non-ideological research on immigration issues across a broad diversity of disciplines and perspectives, and the application of this research to local, regional and national policy issues. The IIH Issue Briefs showcase topical new research in a short and accessible format. The IIH Special Reports present original new data and research findings in a more detailed, but equally accessible, format.