Perspectives on Local Civic Engagement Among Immigrants and Refugees in Seattle

• In Event: Immigration and Refugee Politics in Cities

Abstract

Issues of immigration and citizenship are at the forefront of policy and public opinion in the United States. An important area of study concerning immigrant populations in the United States is the role of these populations in local public affairs and their perception of ability to engage in civic activity. This study explores immigrant and refugee perceptions of their ability to make a difference in their community by leveraging an extensive survey conducted in King County, Washington. Utilizing multivariate regression models to assess relationships between civic engagement measures and perception of ability to make a difference in their communities, results from this study provide multiple points of meaningful insight into perspectives on civic affairs among immigrants and refugees. Findings show that immigrants and refugees who were more interested in the 2016 presidential election, more likely to vote in the 2016 presidential election, and could easily access election information in their preferred language were significantly more likely to believe they could make a difference in their community. Further, findings show that differences based on which country respondents had originally migrated from and how long respondents have resided in the United States appear in views surrounding civic engagement. The findings from this study provide novel insight into perceptions and attitudes surrounding local civic engagement and political participation among immigrants and refugees in the United States, allowing for broader understanding of public participation considerations among migrant citizens.

Author

• Dan Ziebarth, George Washington University