Hiding in the Shadows? The Activity Spaces of Undocumented Immigrants

• In Event: 3254 - How Families, Neighborhoods, and Schools Shape Immigrant Lives

Abstract

The impact of a lack of legal status is evident in the relative quality of housing and neighborhoods that undocumented immigrants are able to secure residence in. Undocumented status may also shape differences in the span of and the characteristics of their activity spaces— influencing where they live and work, and also where they shop, worship, or engage in other activities located in non-residential settings. Using data from Wave 2 of the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhoods Study (LAFANS), I compare the characteristics of the activity spaces of undocumented immigrants to those of documented immigrants and native-born racial/ethnic groups. I find that undocumented immigrants report fewer routine activity locations, and that their activity locations tend to be closer to their homes. Undocumented immigrants also tend to spend time in locations characterized by a lower share of non-Hispanic racial/ethnic groups and greater concentrated disadvantage and residential instability. Overall, my results highlight the pervasive impact of legal status on stratifying prospects for successful incorporation, and underscore that these impacts extend beyond the residential context.

Author

• Alex Currit, Cornell University