Immigration Enforcement and Policing in the Rust Belt, 1995-2014

• In Event: Policing Marginalized Communities: Immigration, Same-Sex Couples, Interpersonal Violence, and Mental Health Policies

Abstract

Existing research on local immigration policymaking and immigrant policing has largely focused on responsive efforts—attempts to deal with an existing population and existing problems—in the established and emerging immigrant destinations of the Southeast and Western United States. Yet, these are not the only areas in which immigration policing and policymaking occurs. Due to the continued problems resulting from deindustrialization, many Rust Belt cities—those cities in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States that experienced massive population and employment loss due to economic restructuring—are trying to attract immigrants to undo some of their social problems. Such cities are engaged in immigration policymaking and policing, but it is in a very different context than policymaking elsewhere, as the policies are not a response to immigration, but rather are meant to attract a new population and solve problems unrelated to immigrants. Using data drawn from municipal codes and newspaper archives from 16 Rust Belt cities, I examine immigration policymaking and policing efforts from 1995. Initial findings suggest that many policing efforts begin as responses to immigrant-specific problems, but become more politically motivated over time.

Author

• Emily A. Shrider, The Ohio State University