Immigrant Bureaucratic Incorporation: The Dual Roles of Professional Missions and Government Policies

Abstract

Drawing on original qualitative research, this article investigates how natives and institutions in rural America's “new immigrant destinations” are adapting, if at all, to Hispanic newcomers and whether corresponding interaction should be viewed as substantively responsive. In contrast to predictions made by traditional political incorporation theories, results based on semi-structured interviews and ethnographic fieldwork suggest that Hispanic newcomers are undergoing a process of bureaucratic incorporation whereby public service bureaucrats, rather than elected politicians, are initiating substantive responsiveness. Yet I also identify a continuing interaction between immigrant bureaucratic and political incorporation in rural America. I conclude by connecting my findings to more general sociological perspectives regarding population needs, electoral bodies, and public bureaucracies in democratic societies.

Somalis in the Twin Cities and Columbus : Immigrant Incorporation in New Destinations

“…At the same time, they were largely pleased with the work of a small number of street-level bureaucrats. This finding is similar to Marrow's (2009) finding that service bureaucrats are often more effective than elected officials in facilitating immigrant political incorporation. One community leader offered a critique that was shared by ten other respondents: Elected officials come visit us when they want our vote, otherwise, we don't see them.…”

“…In other words, bureaucrats play a leading role in responding to immigrant requests. As Marrow (2009) …”

Is Incorporation of Unauthorized Immigrants Possible? Inclusion and Contingency for Nonstatus Migrants and Legal Immigrants

“…Scholars who explore the lives of unauthorized immigrants also tend to emphasize their inherent vulnerability, using such terms as clandestinity, enforcement, among other institutions (Marrow 2009). 4 Even here we cannot assume that naturalized citizens have achieved inclusion in every dimension we might identify as important to citizenship.…”

Innovation without Reputation: How Bureaucrats Saved the Veterans’ Health Care System

“…14 The notable exception, of course, comes with the discretion accorded to "street-level" bureaucrats. See Lipsky 1980, Marrow 2009. 15 Mahoney and Thelen 2009.…”