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Immigrant Political Participation

Immigrant Political Participation. Political Science 126C / Chicano/Latino Studies 163 Lecture 9 February 5, 2009. Revisiting Models of Immigrant Incorporation. From Sociology: [Traditional] Assimilation “New assimilation” with particular attention to status at entry

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Immigrant Political Participation

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  1. Immigrant Political Participation Political Science 126C / Chicano/Latino Studies 163 Lecture 9 February 5, 2009

  2. Revisiting Models of Immigrant Incorporation From Sociology: [Traditional] Assimilation “New assimilation” with particular attention to status at entry Segmented assimilation

  3. [Traditional] Assimilation

  4. “New Assimilation” (particular attention to status at entry)

  5. Segmented Assimilation

  6. These Are General Models • Not predictive at individual level • They look for patterns across national origin groups, regions, religious groups, and skill sets • Likely that different patterns will appear on different measures of assimilation

  7. What’s Unique About Political Assimilation? • Key “formal” measure – what the state cares about – naturalization occurs or doesn’t in the first generation • 14th Amendment guarantees that all people born in the United States are U.S. citizens • Citizenship also extended to children of U.S. citizens born abroad • Is there a consequence for the second generation of immigrant parents who don’t naturalize? • Very small third generation – grandchildren of immigrants – in today’s polity • So political incorporation models primarily speak to change between immigrant parents and 2nd generation

  8. A Model for Immigrant Political Incorporation We’ll talk about aspects of this for the next two classes Today: The [positive] role of challenges to immigrant status

  9. Immigrants Human Capital Formal Incorporation Group Dynamics Participation Institutional Resources Challenges to Immigrant Status 1.5, 2nd, 3rd Generation Parental Incorporation Political Values,Attitudes, &Behaviors Human Capital & Group Resources

  10. 2006 Immigrant Rights Protests (and Response)

  11. Short-Term Goal Met • Criminalization provisions of HR 4437 quickly left the debate • … at some cost • 700 miles of wall authorized • Expansion of Border Patrol and interior enforcement (raids) • Arguably, this victory and the generally positive nature of the protests should have been an empowering experience for immigrant families

  12. How to Assess Longer-Term Implications? • Public opinion on immigration issues • Change in immigrant naturalization behaviors • Congressional/presidential politics • 2006 • 2008 and beyond • New immigrant organizational infrastructure

  13. 1. Mass Public Opinion • General pattern – unfocused, internally contradictory, and highly responsive to the way the question is asked • Immigration at current levels too high, but immigrants are an asset • Opposition to unauthorized migration, support for increasing barriers to unauthorized migration, but support for a path to legal residence • Patterns unchanged by 2006 protests • Overall, protestors viewed unfavorably by twice as many as view them favorably

  14. Group that Did See Some Change – Latino U.S. Citizens • Historically, Latino U.S. citizens have had arms-length relationship with Latino immigrants • Immigrant protests reminded Latino U.S. citizens of their immigrant roots • More than half supported legalization • Immigration/immigrant rights not top important issue for Latino voters

  15. 2. Naturalization • Applications increased dramatically in March 2006 and have stayed high • Feb. 2006 – 57,000 • March 2006 – 78,000 • Average March 2006-February 2007 – 65,000/month • Protests, not the only cause • Revised naturalization exam • Proposed fee increase

  16. 3. Electoral Consequences • 2006 – Protests came to late to shape primaries (most likely point of influence) • Lesson to officeholders – California 48 (preceded protests) • Campbell (R) • Gilchrist (I) • Immigration an issue in a few Congressional races – No consistent outcome to shape Congressional debate • California 50 (Brian Bilbray) • Arizona 8 (Randy Graf)

  17. Continuing Influences • Potentially immigration-moderate Republicans made more strident • Some surprise Democratic victories in border states/South – ran on anti-legalization platforms, dividing Democratic caucus • Emergence of single-issue immigration candidates • Reduces likelihood of compromise in the House

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