The Latino Invasion Hypothesis: Findings from State Level Data

• In Event: 566 - Section on Latino/a Sociology Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 05. Politics/Policy/Law

Abstract

It is estimated that approximately 65,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S. high schools every year across the United States. However, only five to ten percent of these students go on to college (NCSL, 2011). Under U.S. law, undocumented students who wish to pursue a higher education are not eligible to receive financial aid and are treated as international students who must pay out-of-state tuition rates even if they have lived in the U.S. for most of their lives. Some states have therefore enacted a state version of the DREAM Act making undocumented students eligible to receive in-state tuition benefits thus making college more affordable and feasible. Other states however have enacted opposing legislation creating financial obstacles for undocumented students who wish to pursue a higher education. This study examines states with current statutes or regulations either for or against in-state tuition benefits. Demographic data from 1990, 2000 and 2010 of the Latino population in selected states are used to examine for associations between Latino population growth and the condition known as population threat that might lead states to anti-immigrant legislation. The analysis indicates that states that have passed legislation to restrict undocumented students from public universities tend to have higher levels of recent Latino population growth compared with states that permit undocumented students to enroll in public universities and colleges. The findings support the initial hypothesis that Latino population growth is producing fear among the dominant racial group in the United States leading to anti-immigrant legislation.

Author

• Liliana V Rodriguez, University of California-Santa Barbara