The Intersections of Latino Identity: Religion, Group Consciousness, and Immigration Policy

Abstract

Questions of political participation among different races are often applied to the theory of group consciousness. Despite knowledge of intersectional identities and their effects on political participation, religious identity in this discourse has gone largely unnoticed. This paper seeks to apply the theory of group consciousness to religion in hopes of understanding the salience of religious identity. Analyzing Latinos and their perspectives on immigration this paper asks the question: “do Latinos with differences in religious observation, have different perspectives on immigration?” By doing so, this study hopes to uncover the complex nature of intersectional identities and the multidimensional influences of religious group consciousness. This examination suggests that the salience of religious identity fluctuates based on indicators used when measuring religious observance through behavior, and affiliation.