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For the first time in U.S. history, after decades of unprecedented growth in interior immigration enforcement disproportionately impacting Latinos, ten percent of the U.S. House of Representatives is Hispanic. Using congressional district‐level data on all candidates participating in general elections to the U.S. House of Representatives between 2008 and 2018, we show that intensified immigration enforcement suppressed Hispanics' representation in congressional elections. The effect—nonexistent for other minorities, such as non‐Hispanic Black candidates, as well as in primary elections—is driven by local police‐based measures and diminished electoral support. Furthermore, it appears more harmful during midterm elections and in localities without a sanctuary policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the effectiveness of Arizona's omnibus immigration law SB1070, which made it a misdemeanor crime for an alien to not carry proper documentation and asked police to determine the immigration status of any person suspected of being an illegal alien during a lawful stop. We find that SB1070's enactment coincided with the stalling to slight recovery of the share of non-citizen Hispanics in Arizona 3 years after the enactment of an employment verification mandate to all employers. Yet, its effectiveness in reducing the share of likely unauthorized immigrants has been minimal and questions the merit of the law. (JEL J61, J1), I. INTRODUCTION During the past years, as the national immigration debate stalled, states started to take immigration enforcement into their own hands. Recent proposals at the state and local government [...]

The Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows international students to work temporarily in the United States during or directly following their studies. In 2008 the work duration was extended for eligible STEM majors, and in 2011 and 2012 the list of eligible majors was expanded. Using administrative records, we examine how these reforms impacted the enrollment and quality of international students. OPT reforms raised matriculation of international students in bachelor's and master's programs by 18% and 30%, respectively. Additionally, they improved the quality of students, as exemplified by greater scholarship/fellowship funding and matriculation into highly selective universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the intensification of immigration enforcement in the interior of the USA, some school districts have implemented 'safe-zone' policies to protect students' academic progression and well-being. Using primary data from a sample of US-born children of unauthorized migrants, we document the detrimental effect of stricter immigration enforcement on children's educational outcomes and the benefits of safe-zone policies. Our analyses show that restricting immigration authorities' access to schools and providing counseling on immigration-related issues are crucial policy components in strengthening children's focus, effort, expectations, parental involvement, and relationships. These findings highlight the damaging impact of immigration enforcement on US-citizen children in mixed-status households and advance our understanding of the role of local policies in mitigating these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the fertility impact of a family-based regularization policy granting temporary legal status to unauthorized immigrants based on their offspring's citizenship. The policy, enacted through a 2011 Royal Decree in Spain, allows for unauthorized parents of eligible nationalities to become temporary legal residents if they have a Spanish minor. Using data from the Spanish Labor Force Survey (2007–2016), along with a quasi-experimental approach that exploits the change in legal residency eligibility requirements, we show that the policy has significantly increased the childbearing likelihood of eligible mothers, even though the overall increase in fertility nationwide remains trivial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]