Replication of How Interior Immigration Enforcement Affects Trust in Law Enforcement

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Whether documented or not, immigrants have long been an integral part of America's foundation. Over the past two decades, the United States has aggressively enacted zero-tolerance policies designed to expedite the removal of undocumented immigrants to their countries of origin. Zero-tolerance policies were initially pitched as tools to defend the homeland by removing some of the most severe criminal immigrant offenders, immigrants who have committed violent or serious offenses. One of the most vital components of policing is fairness and trustworthiness; when police officers act as an extension of immigration custom enforcement, policing is viewed as unfair by immigrant community members and thus trust is impacted. Much of the literature to date related to the impacts of immigration policies has failed to replicate studies in this field. This study seeks to shed light on the impacts interior immigration enforcement and policies has on immigrant communities. In this study, I build on the literature surrounding interior immigration enforcement while replicating one of the most up to date studies on interior immigration enforcement. I conclude by finding that interior immigration enforcements affect views on trust when undocumented immigrants believe their local officers are working directly with ICE.

Author

• Darwin Romero, American University