"Public Support for Hispanic Deportation in the US: The Effects of Ethnic Prejudice and Perceptions of Economic Competition in a Period of Economic Distress"
The article examined data from two surveys, the Pew Research Center in 2006 and the Social Climate Survey of Hispanic Immigration in 2009, which were conducted to understand the publics opinion about Hispanic deportation and immigration policy during economic pressure. SCSH was conducted in February and March of 2009, through computer assisted telephone interviewing techniques and random digit dialing sampling, with a sample of 1,510. The surveys were implemented to investigate how ethnic prejudice and economic stress can influence the support for undocumented Hispanics being deported. Questions focused on obtaining the publics opinion about policy actions that should be taken towards undocumented immigrants. They measured the publics opinions through three policy options- deportation, allowing immigrants to stay temporarily on a work permit and allowing them to stay permanently. Also, questions asked about the effect that Hispanic immigrants have on the economy, measuring for ethnic prejudice and economic competition. Controlled variables such as age, employment, education, political party, etc., were used to see if there were any independent effects that could shape support for deportation.
When measuring for ethnic and economic competition, results showed a decrease in supporting "allowing immigrants to stay in the US permanently". With the race variable, Hispanics and blacks were more open to supporting permanent status to deportation. The higher educational variables were less likely to support permanent status, too. Political party preference in 2009, disclosed how most political groups supported deportation. There was a 30% increase supporting deportation from 2006 to 2009 (51%). The increased support and influence of the public related to the US being under economic stress, leading to fears of immigration during 2009. In all, results provided input the support of deportation, but data limitations caused inadequate estimates of policy preference.
"White Public Opinion Toward Undocumented Immigrants: Threat and Interpersonal Environment"
The study examined the views of whites toward immigration in 1996 and 2004, by exploring data from the General Social Survey and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data consisted of a probability sample of whites that were 18 or older and had a sample size of 980 in 1996 and 875 in 2004. Both surveys asked whites if they agreed or disagreed with America taking stronger measures to exclude undocumented immigrants and served as a dependent variable. Independent variables such as network age, race, family and education were used to test group threat, labor competition, intergroup contact and core social network theories to understand attitudes concerning immigrants. Percentages of Latinos measured labor competition and unemployment measured group threat and intergroup contact in white's residency. Control variables were used to find independent effects on white views of immigrants. When testing, a social network approach was used to identify any connection among intergroup relations and prejudice.
Significantly, it was found that whites desired more action against immigrants in 1996 than in 2004, due to levels of unemployment, which was not noteworthy in 2004. In 2004, whites showed less support of those same actions because of their exposure to Latinos living in own communities. During this year there was a major increase of the Hispanic population, showing that having more intergroup interactions, will influence whites to be more accepting. Moreover, core networks, such as education, age, social networks also had an influence on white attitudes. It was observed that educated networks and contact with Latinos decreased the likelihood of favoring actions against immigrants. Hence, having older age interactions influenced whites to favor exclusion of immigrants. Specifically, this finding explains how white's attitudes are influenced not only by their own characteristics but also by their social contacts. Overall, it was understood that having smaller network affiliations have a greater influence on white's opinions of immigrants.
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