Immigration Policy and Attitudes Toward the Police: Does Immigration Policy Influence Immigrants’ Confidence in Their Local Police Departments?

Abstract

Immigration in the United States has historically been a contentious issue marked by intense debates. The United States is often seen as a melting pot, yet immigration policies frequently have adverse effects on immigrants, varying from one government to another. The 287(g) program, which allows local police to perform immigration duties, exemplifies such policies. This program can harm police–immigrant community relations and weaken trust in the police. This study aimed to examine variations in immigrant confidence in the police between 287(g) and non-287(g) states and to identify factors influencing this confidence. Our ordinal regression analysis of nationally representative data indicates that 287(g) does not impact immigrants’ confidence in the police. However, security concerns (terrorism and a sense of safety) and demographic variables do influence this confidence. We conclude that immigration enforcement is not a major determinant of immigrants’ confidence in the police compared to other factors.