Exploring the Impact of Uncertainty Regarding Immigration Policies on Immigrant Crime Participation

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

This quantitative study explores the impact of uncertainty associated with the ever-changing U.S. immigration policies on the propensity to engage in criminal behavior. Current research demonstrates that when the certainty of the foreseeable future remains questionable, fear and stress are elicited responses. Immigration policies are particularly vulnerable to unexpected and rapid changes; hence, it is crucial to explore how the immigrant population in the United States responds to those changes. This research uses the theoretical framework derived from Robert Agnew's (1992) general strain theory to examine the role of negative emotions in the etiology of offending. Data for this study is drawn from a randomly selected sample of undocumented and legal immigrants in the state of Pennsylvania. Research participants fill out an anonymous survey that asks questions about their past, current, and possible future criminal behaviors, as well as their knowledge, understanding, and opinions of current immigration policies. Moreover, the research addresses the impact of media on the level of information about immigration policies that immigrants possess, and how this relationship further influences criminal behavior within the immigrant population.

Authors

• Kennedy Paige Waterson, Alvernia University

• Malgorzata J. Zuber, Alvernia University