“Take your immigrant ass home...”: Push and Pull Factors Driving U.S. Immigrant Settlement from 2010-2019

• In Event: Poster Session 2

Abstract

Since the 1980s, U.S. immigrants have increasingly become more geographically dispersed across the U.S., raising questions as to what is driving this change. Migration theories are often applied to study immigrant settlement, with the immigrant destinations construct used to address the underlying assumptions of many migration theories. Migration theories do not often consider the internal factors that may push migrants from settling in a place. Social control theories can offer additional insights into this theoretical gap. Two examples of social control efforts directed towards immigrants are immigration enforcement (formal) and negative sentiment towards immigrants (informal). This study will take an integrative theoretical approach to the exploration of FBM settlement patterns across the continental US from 2010-2019. Using multiple data sources, I examine the relationship between immigrant settlement and two understudied factors, immigration enforcement and negative sentiments towards immigrants, alongside sociodemographic, economic, social control, and political factors. I will estimate multiple spatial regime models that will allow me to examine the differential importance of place-based factors in predicting immigrant settlement across continental US counties. This work will provide a richer understanding of the multifaceted nature of immigrant settlement patterns and the push and pull factors associated with settlement decisions.

Author

• Bianca Wirth, Pennsylvania State University