American Immigrant Policy Portal
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Click here to visit the Portal February/2017
In This Issue

   
Research to Inform Policy and Practice   
on Migration-Related Issues
  
Policy-related reports, studies, and information about the challenge and promise of immigrant integration. Materials organized by collection topic.
Click on headlines for abstracts and links.

FeatureResearchFeatured Research
Contrary to assertions from the Trump Administration, CAP report finds less crime in "sanctuary" jurisdictions than in non-sanctuary

In one of his first acts as president, Donald Trump issued an executive order that would, among other things, punish "sanctuary jurisdictions." The order included a directive to the Secretary of Homeland Security to put out reports to "better inform the public regarding the public safety threats associated with sanctuary jurisdictions." Do these jurisdictions threaten public safety?  This report from the Center for American Progress compares crime rates in "nonsanctuary" versus "sanctuary" countries -- the latter defined as counties that do not honor requests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hold an immigrant beyond his or her release date. The report finds "that there are, on average, 35.5 fewer crimes per 10,000 people in sanctuary counties -- a result that is highly statistically significant." The report also looks at a number of economic indicators. It finds that median household income is higher in sanctuary counties, poverty is lower, use of public assistance is lower, the labor force participation rate is higher and unemployment is lower. It may be hard to say that the better outcomes produced in "sanctuary" counties are because of the effort to separate law enforcement from immigration enforcement. But it is clear from the report that there is no evidence to show that there are greater "public safety threats associated with sanctuary jurisdictions." (Maurice Belanger, Maurice Belanger Associates)


Paper from the Center for Migration Studies of New York estimates the economic fallout from a program of mass deportations

This paper assesses the impact of large-scale deportations on mixed-status families, i.e. families comprised of both documented and undocumented members. In 2014, there were 6.6 million US-born citizens residing in 3 million households with undocumented residents (usually parents). Of these US-born citizens, 5.7 million are children under the age of 18. Removing undocumented family members would reduce median household income by 47 percent (from $41,300 to $22,000). If just one-third of these children remained in the United States, the cost of raising them through their minority would total $118 billion. Gross domestic product would be reduced by 1.4 percent in the first year, and by $4.7 trillion over 10 years. In addition, the housing market would suffer a serious blow, as many households would default on mortgage loans. (Nicholas V. Montalto, Diversity Dynamics)
 
NewResearchNew Public Policy Research and Reports

Adult Education and Workforce Training


  
Economic Development, Employment, and Labor Issues


Immigrant/Refugee Communities

Immigration and Refugee Policy

Article explains "the U visa's failed promise for survivors of domestic violence" and urges reforms to restore victim autonomy



 
NewVideosVideos uploaded to the Portal YouTube Channel




Sociologist Mary C. Waters of Harvard University, Chair of a recent National Academy of Sciences panel that produced a report on immigrant integration, discusses the key findings in the report and offers some reflections on current policy debates.




David Bier of the Cato Institute reviews the connection between immigrants and crime and concludes that "immigrants make America a safer and more prosperous country."





Adam of "Adam Ruins Everything" explains "Why a Wall Won't Stop Immigration," with a guest appearance by Princeton sociologist Doug Massey.



  
 
lcLatest Commentary
 
 
A selection of recent OpEds from immigration researchers and major opinion leaders




February 21, 2017
The Myth of the U.S. Immigration Crisis
 Noah Smith, Bloomberg
Read More

 February 18, 2017
Trump Has Turned the GOP Into the Party of Eugenics
 Sarah Jones, The New Republic
Read More
 
February 16, 2017
The Democrats' Immigration Problem
Thomas B. Edsall, The New York Times
Read More

February 10, 2017
The Democrats' Immigration Problem(s)
Megan McCardle, Bloomberg View
Read More

February 8, 2017
Refugees are already vigorously vetted. I know because I vetted them.
Natasha Hall, The Washington Post
Read More

February 7, 2017
I'm Pro-Life and Pro-Refugee
Scott Arbeiter, The New York Times
Read More

January 28, 2017
The Roots of a Counterproductive Immigration Policy
David Frum, The Atlantic

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The Portal is a project of Diversity Dynamics, LLC, in association with the Center for International Social Work, School of Social Work, Rutgers University, and the Immigrant Learning Center, Inc., Public Education Institute, Malden, MA. Please send content suggestions for the Portal, including events of interest, to: [email protected]. No endorsements implied for research, opinions, resources or events featured on the Portal.