How Local Contexts Matter for Local Immigrant Policies

Abstract

There is a dearth of studies comparing the relative explanatory power of several major theories related to policy support for immigrants specifically in the context of local policies (as opposed to those at the state and national levels) and related to immigrant settlement and attraction (as opposed to welfare or legal benefits). By testing alternate explanations of local immigration policy, the analysis contributes to the development of theory related to policymaking in this area. Based on a national survey of municipalities across the US there is little evidence that racial threat theory limits local immigrant supportive policies. However, the policy determinants differ by the type of immigrant attraction and support policy examined.

An Introduction to Volume 59, Issue 4

“…Moving to the US context, Khan-Welsh, Reese, and Reese (2023) examine the results of the 2018 Local Government and Immigrant Communities Survey of the International City/County Manager Association, which was sent to the chief administrators of all US counties and all municipalities with populations over 10,000. The authors use this wealth of data to explore various hypotheses regarding the likelihood of municipalities to adopt what they call “local immigrant attraction and support policies” (p. 1191).…”

Caught Between a Well‐Intentioned State and a Hostile Federal System: Local Implementation of Inclusive Immigrant Policies

“…Although the enactment of inclusive state immigrant policies may be a promising health policy intervention, little population health research has examined what happens as these policies are implemented across states’ diverse regions and communities. After inclusive state policies are enacted in state capitals, local institutions and public service officials implement policies in the form of new programs, resources, and rights for immigrant populations 15 . There is some evidence that inclusive state policies are associated with varied outcomes for different populations, 16 pointing to the need to identify implementation barriers and understand how (or if) policies translate into equitable access to new programs, resources, or rights for community residents.…”

“…There has been little research on local implementation of state policy because most research on immigrant policy and localities has focused on implementation of federal policy or factors that determine the creation of county or city ordinances 15,29,30 . This literature, however, provides insights into the factors that may shape how state immigrant policies are received, implemented, and experienced locally.…”

“…This literature, however, provides insights into the factors that may shape how state immigrant policies are received, implemented, and experienced locally. Local demographic, political, and economic factors, such as the size of the communities’ foreign‐born population, changes in the Latino population, population educational attainment, and median income, are associated with the enactment of local ordinances, budgetary priorities, and agency practices 15 . For example, the characteristics and internal policies of local law enforcement agencies may influence their collaboration with federal immigration enforcement 18 .…”

“…Finally, local immigration climates may play a role in state policy implementation. Immigration climates reflect political priorities and ideologies, as well as social attitudes related to migration and immigrants 15,18,19 . There is considerable variation across US counties and cities in attitudes toward immigrants, as well as social and political values regarding national identity and belonging 31,32 .…”