Executive Summary
Nearly half of all U.S. adults who reported immigration enforcement activities in their community said they worried that they or a family member could be approached by federal immigration authorities, according to an analysis from the Urban Institute.
The Issue
Amid increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in many U.S. cities, the findings show concern about enforcement among U.S.-born adults as well as immigrants. Concern was highest among adults in immigrant families (71%), but more than one in three adults in nonimmigrant families (36%) reported worrying about enforcement activities in their community.
Key Findings
- Nearly half of all U.S. adults (46%) who reported immigration enforcement activities in their community said they worried that they or a family member could be approached by federal immigration authorities.
- Concerns were especially pronounced within communities of color. Half of all Hispanic adults (48%) reported fear about being approached by immigration officials, along with 18% of Black adults and 31% of adults from other races, including Native Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders.
- The analysis showed that about one in six people who were aware of ICE activity in their community said they personally knew someone who was taken into custody, detained, or deported.
Conclusion
Researchers and RWJF experts say that hyper-charged immigration enforcement in U.S. cities can negatively affect entire communities, not just immigrants and immigrant families. “When people are afraid, the health and wellbeing of entire communities are affected,” says Katherine Hempstead, senior policy adviser at RWJF.
About the Author/Grantee
The nonprofit Urban Institute is dedicated to elevating the debate on social and economic policy. For nearly five decades, Urban scholars have conducted research and offered evidence-based solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities across a rapidly urbanizing world. Their objective research helps expand opportunities for all, reduce hardship among the most vulnerable, and strengthen the effectiveness of the public sector. Visit the Urban Institute’s Health Policy Center for more information specific to its staff and its recent research.
