Eliminating the Competition? Evidence from the Great Recession and 287(g) Agreements

• In Event: The Consequences of Decentralized Immigration Enforcement

Abstract

Does increased labor market scarcity lead to more local immigration enforcement? We answer this question by evaluating the impact of the Great Recession on the likelihood that local law enforcement agencies partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement through 287(g) agreements. Using a difference-in-differences design, we find that commuting zones facing higher unemployment rates during the Great Recession are significantly more likely to adopt anti-immigration policies. The results are concentrated among commuting zones with above median share in pre-Recession immigrant population, non-Hispanic and non-White population, and workers employed in the construction industry. Our results are consistent with the idea that adverse labor market shocks generate increased anxiety in majority groups that lead to greater support of policies restricting immigrants ability to compete in local labor markets.

Author

• Sergio Ernesto Barrera, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
  Presenting Author