"!Quedate o Vente!": Uncovering the Determinants of Hispanic Public Opinion toward Immigration

• Published in: Political research quarterly Vol. 50; no. 3; pp. 627 - 647
• Main Authors: Hood, M. V., Morris, Irwin L., Shirkey, Kurt A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA University of Utah 01.09.1997; SAGE Publications; University of Utah Press, etc; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Acculturation; Attitude formation; Censuses; HISPANIC ORIGIN; Hispanic-Americans; Hispanics; Illegal immigration; Immigrant populations; Immigration; Immigration and emigration; Immigration policy; MIGRATION, IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION; Policymaking; Political attitudes; Population growth; Population size; PUBLIC OPINION; U.S.A; United States; UNITED STATES, 1945 TO PRESENT
• ISSN: 1065-9129; 1938-274X
• DOI: 10.1177/106591299705000307

Why do some Hispanic-Americans support (Vente) and others oppose (Quedate) the liberalization of immigration policies In this study we attempt to ascertain which combination of demographic, attitudinal, and contextual factors determines Hispanic public opinion toward legal immigration. In a departure from previous research, we conduct an advanced multivariate analysis and utilize an existing national-level sample of Hispanics. While we find only limited evidence that Hispanic public opinion on immigration varies among nationalistic subgroups (e.g., Cuban-Americans, Mexican-Americans, etc.), we do find that level of acculturation and perceived economic threat influence Hispanic opinion on legal immigration. We also find that Hispanics residing in areas with large illegal migrant populations, and those with more negative attitudes toward the impact of Hispanics on American society, tend to favor more restrictive immigration policies. Finally, we examine the implications of these findings for future studies of public opinion toward immigration and for the development of immigration policy.