The Political Consequences of Family Separation among Immigrants in the U.S.

• In Event: Public Opinion on Immigration

Abstract

Following the implementation of a strict “zero tolerance” immigration policy at the U.S.-Mexico border, the American public responded with collective dismay and sharp disapproval, with national polls consistently showing large majorities opposed to the separation of immigrant families, especially the forcible separation of children from their parents while held in detention. While there has been a great deal of research and media focus on the psychological impacts of family separation and on the possible electoral fallout for leaders who support or defend it, there has been little attention to whether and how the experience of family separation—a politically formative interaction with the state that shapes immigrant incorporation processes—impacts the political attitudes and behavior of immigrants and immigrant communities (e.g., perceptions of the American political system, society, and values; decisions about whether to stay or to pursue citizenship; beliefs about race and ethnicity in the U.S.). Furthermore, while families separated at the southern border have been most centered in recent debate, family separation in U.S. immigration policy impacts diverse foreign-born populations across the country. Drawing on new data from surveys and in-depth interviews with Asian, Latino, and Black noncitizens, including undocumented immigrants, this paper investigates the short-term and potential long-term political consequences of family separation policies among those most impacted by them.

Author

• Julie Lee Merseth, Northwestern University