Social Policy Team Lead

Lilian Tsai

Lilian is a college freshman interested in military history and public policy. She is from Kirkland, Washington, and first joined YIP in 2023. She currently serves as the Social Policy Team Lead at YIP.

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All articles by the author

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Policy Briefs by the author

Who Gets to Eat? SNAP, Work Requirements, & Food Insecurity

Social Policy

February 15, 2026

This brief analyzes food insecurity in the United States with an emphasis on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It evaluates SNAP’s historical development, recent policy changes, and their implications for food security, employment, and public health.

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Fixing Social Security: What’s at Stake?

Social Policy

December 20, 2025

This brief will analyze the debate over how the United States should fund Social Security and retirement, a growing conflict causing great discourse around the nation. It will consider the history and previously attempted policies of this phenomenon.

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School Choice at a Crossroads

Social Policy

October 18, 2025

This brief examines the debate over school choice, a developing issue generating significant discourse across the United States. It considers the history, tested policies, and stakeholders involved in the ongoing debate.

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Pathways or Pitfalls? The Policy Crisis of Undocumented Labor Participation

Social Policy

August 21, 2025

This brief will explain the main pathways for immigrants that do not have citizenship to obtain work. It will also address the current stakes and stakeholders, as well as why it is a pressing issue in this day.

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Unpacking the Impact: The US Immigration Ban and Its Effect on Particular Countries

Immigration Policy

June 29, 2025

This brief discusses the impact that Executive Order 13780, or the ‘Muslim Ban,’ had on immigration from Muslim and African countries. The brief puts this ban into historical context, discussing how the affected countries were impacted by this order, and how it came to be rescinded under the presidency of Joe Biden.

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Border Surveillance Technologies: Benefits, Risks, and Ethical Concerns

Immigration Policy

April 13, 2025

This brief will show the historical background and nature of digital surveillance at the United States Southern Border. With this increasing security, heavy surveillance has been highly criticized for its effects on individual(s) well-being.

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Streamlining the Asylum Application Process: Addressing Inefficiencies in Pathways

Immigration Policy

September 29, 2024

This brief will analyze various reasons behind current inefficiencies inside the United States’s asylum process. It will also consider the various stakeholders and proposed policies regarding this issue.

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A Closer Look at Drug Courts

Criminal Justice

August 25, 2024

This brief analyzes potential shortcomings in drug courts and arguments over how to improve resources and rehabilitate offenders.

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Police Actions Against Nonviolent Resistance

Criminal Justice

July 27, 2024

This brief analyzes police actions towards nonviolent forms of protests. It will consider existing guidelines on the use of force against peaceful activism.

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Sexual Abuse in Prisons: Prioritizing Rehabilitation and Safety

Criminal Justice

May 29, 2024

This brief aims to analyze the complex issue of sexual abuse in prison, including but not limited to prison rape and abuse, sexual assault, and both inmate-inmate and inmate-staff sexual conduct. It will propose policy solutions to protect incarcerated people and minimize the effects that sexual abuse has on prisons.

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The Pitfalls of Surveillance Technology: Policy Analysis and Solutions

Criminal Justice

May 29, 2024

This brief analyzes the pitfalls of surveillance technology and how to counteract biased systems in an increasingly digitized world.

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Betrayal Behind The Bars: Curbing Corruption in Prisons

Criminal Justice

March 1, 2024

This brief examines prison corruption on the different levels of the criminal justice system, from guard bribery to corrupt private prisons. This brief also explores solutions to minimize prison corruption on all levels.

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Breaking the Silence: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Domestic Violence Courts

Criminal Justice

February 13, 2024

This brief explores the efficacy of domestic violence courts and how to optimize them for fair and comprehensive rulings. This brief will acknowledge the flaws within the court system and provide solutions to fix those issues and ensure justice for all.

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Ending the "War on Drugs": Highlighting Effective Treatment for Substance Abuse in the Criminal Justice System

Criminal Justice

January 23, 2024

The policy brief provides an overview of the historical trajectory of drug policies in the United States, discussing the shift from punitive measures to evidence-based, rehabilitative approaches within the criminal justice system. It highlights the effectiveness of various solutions such as cognitive therapy, medical interventions, and sustained support in mitigating recidivism and addressing the broader complexities of substance abuse and mental health within the justice system.

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Equal Justice for All? An Impartial Look at Gender Disparities within the Criminal Justice System

Criminal Justice

September 15, 2023

This brief aims to analyze gender disparities in the criminal justice system and propose legislation to enforce equality. We find that sexism in criminal justice is an expansive issue affecting all gender identities and that policy solutions should target reproductive health, mental health, and intersectional disparities between LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals.

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Democracy Beyond Bars: Bringing Political Prisoners to Light

Criminal Justice

November 21, 2023

The term “political prisoner” refers to a person detained, incarcerated, or facing legal consequences due to their political beliefs and activities. Over the years, the criminal justice system has inhabited many political prisoners for several reasons, mainly due to controversial movements and opinions. While free speech and the freedom to express oneself is a concrete law in the Constitution, there is still an increasing controversy around political prisoners and how they affect national security, individual rights, and government transparency.

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Breaking Chains, Building Futures: Policy Solutions for a Rehabilitative Juvenile Justice System

Criminal Justice

December 4, 2023

This brief explores whether the juvenile justice system accomplishes its goals of effectively rehabilitating youth offenders, or if it instead creates paranoia and instigates repeat offenders. It will recommend programs, practices, and legislation that could minimize the system’s incriminating effect on young lawbreakers and focus on rehabilitation.

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