The Relationship Between Immigration Enforcement and Educational Attainment: The Role of Sanctuary Policies

Abstract

This study explores the association between sanctuary policies and the high school completion and college enrollment of Hispanic undocumented youth. Sanctuary policies, which city, county, and/or state governments implement, prohibit local political leaders and police officials from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement officers regarding the questioning, detention, and deportation of undocumented immigrants. This study uses data from the American Community Survey and applies a difference-in-differences design. On average, my preferred specification detected no association with high school completion or college enrollment. These findings suggest that although these policies may help counteract immigration enforcement, they may not reduce uncertainty enough to have a significant relationship with educational outcomes.

Postsecondary pathways for undocumented Latina/o students: The different roads to and through bachelor’s degree attainment.

“…While we view this as a strength and area of contribution, this study does not focus on other more proximal-level factors, such as those occurring at the neighborhood or county level. For example, there has been a rise in immigration enforcement at the neighborhood and county levels that we do not consider (Bellows, 2021; Corral, 2021; Kirksey & Sattin-Bajaj, 2021). Not accounting for immigration enforcement and other dynamics more proximal to the individual, however, offers an opportunity for future research.…”

Illegality and Enforcement in the Framing of Immigrant Education in US Newspapers

“…These policies have a significant impact on all immigrant students, but especially the 1 million undocumented students attending K-12 schools and an estimated 10,000 enrolling in college each year (Zong & Batalova, 2019). For example, scholars show that the presence of immigration enforcement harms, and its absence improves, educational outcomes for K-12 immigrant students (Amuedo-Dorantes & Lopez, 2017;Bellows, 2019;Corral, 2021;Dee & Murphy, 2020;Kirksey et al, 2020). While a rich interdisciplinary scholarship covers the development of these policies and their effects, no systematic study examines news framing of the intersection between education and immigration.…”