Crimmigration, Language, and Policing Stops—Evidence from California RIPA

• In Event: Crimmigration

Abstract

In criminology, research on race and ethnicity often compares broad racial groupings, but Latino heterogeneity warrants closer attention. Using the 2019 California Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA) data, this study examines whether enforcement outcomes differ for Latinos perceived to have limited English proficiency (LEP) compared to non-LEP Latinos. While we cannot assert causality that an officer’s perception of LEP signals a perception that the subject is undocumented, we evaluate whether perceived language status is associated with differential enforcement. If such differences exist, a plausible explanation is the officer’s perspective on immigration status, aligning with crimmigration dynamics. RIPA data show that Latinos comprised 40% of all stops in 2019. Employing linear probability models, we estimate enforcement-rate discrepancies between LEP and non-LEP Latinos, controlling for city fixed effects, age, disability, and agency. Results indicate that Latinos with LEP are more likely to be arrested and booked than non-LEP Latinos and that enforcement varies by jurisdiction. These findings highlight the importance of considering subgroup differences within Latino populations and suggest that perceived language ability may shape enforcement outcomes in ways consistent with crimmigration processes.

Keywords: crimmigration, RIPA, limited English proficiency, Latino heterogeneity, policing stops

Author

• Amalia Mejia, University of California, Irvine