The Consequences of Intimidation and Profiling in Immigration Enforcement

• In Event: The Consequences of Decentralized Immigration Enforcement

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impacts of a unique set of US immigration enforcement policies on the immigrant and non-immigrant communities exposed to them. Among the laws intended to identify and remove unauthorized immigrants from the country's interior, 287(g) agreements stand out for their reliance on local officer discretion in targeting potential offenders. I identify effects on a suite of outcomes relevant to the participation of immigrants in the public sphere, e.g. time spent socializing, driving, or working, compared with more insular activities. Consistent with previous literature, I also find changes in marriages and naturalizations due to the policy, as unauthorized immigrants and mixed-status families attempted to protect themselves through legitimizing behavior. Finally, I consider the responses of Hispanic citizens and legal permanent residents. These groups have no direct legal exposure to 287(g) but may have altered their behaviors as a result of intimidation or the targeting of their co-ethnic neighbors.

Author

• Ryan Ellis, Seton Hall
  Presenting Author