Immigrant Victimization across the Life Course: Place and Developmental Context

• In Event: A Dynamic Approach to Understanding Immigration and Crime

Abstract

Historical research on immigrant victimization suggests that immigrants are at increased risk for victimization compared to native-born populations (McDonald, 2018). In the contemporary context of immigration, the immigrant population is more demographically diverse than in the past and immigrant settlement patterns are expanding beyond traditional ports of entry (Hernandez, 2004). These trends suggests immigrants today may be increasingly vulnerable to victimization. On the other hand, the current cohort of first generation immigrants has been referred to as the 1.5 generation, largely raised and educated in the U.S., which may attenuate risk for victimization (Rumbaut, 2004). However, there remains a paucity of contemporary research on immigrant victimization (Iwama, 2018) and on how immigrant victimization may change over the life course. Using multiple waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) the current research examines variation in victimization across 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd + generation immigrants in adolescence, emerging and mid-adulthood and examines contextual and life course factors which may affect risk for victimization at different life stages.

Author

• Jorge M. Chavez, Bowling Green State University