The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act's Impact on Mexican Migrants’ Earnings

• In Event: 452 - Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 13. Race and Employment

Abstract

Subsequent immigration laws have been passed to remediate IRCA’s shortcomings, such as the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA). Using data from the Mexican Migration Project, this paper examines the effect of IIRIRA on male Mexican migrants’ earnings during their last U.S. trip by taking place of origin and migrant destination into account. Consistent with other studies, Post-IRCA had a larger impact on migrants’ earnings than other immigration policy eras. After the passage of IIRIRA, the wage penalty for undocumented migrants decreased from Post-IRCA levels, but the change was almost none. However, when looking closer into Post-IIRIRA, Post-9/11 (after 2001) had a larger impact on migrants’ earnings. In Post-9/11, IIRIRA was increasingly implemented by state governments. Taking into account the migrants’ U.S. destination it was evident migrants experienced lower earnings in all destination after the passage of IIRIRA. Within this study, the importance of social and human capital indicators is discussed. In additional analyzes, the difference in earnings between going to a traditional and new destination is explore. Also, the difference in earnings between coming from an indigenous state or not is explore.

Author

• Jose Luis Collazo, Washington State University