Ethnic Context and Immigration Policy Preferences Among Latinos and Anglos

• Published in: Social science quarterly Vol. 92; no. 1; pp. 1 - 19
• Main Authors: Rocha, Rene R., Longoria, Thomas, Wrinkle, Robert D., Knoll, Benjamin R., Polinard, J. L., Wenzel, James
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.03.2011; Wiley-Blackwell; Wiley; Southwestern Social Science Association; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Series: Social Science Quarterly
• Subjects: African Americans; Attitudes; Census; Censuses; Conservatism; Cultural differences; Cultures and civilizations; Ethnic groups; Ethnic groups. Acculturation. Cultural identity; Ethnicity; Ethnicity and Race; Fences; Group Size; Hispanic Americans; Hispanics; Human ecology and demography; Immigration; Immigration Policy; Indigenous Populations; Interethnic relations; Latin American Cultural Groups; Liberalism; Noncitizens; Norms; Political attitudes; Population size; Positive economics; Reforms; Sociology; Sociology of migrations; Texas; U.S.A; United States Of America; United States > US; Native; English; Ethnicity; Census; Immigration Policy; Chicano
• ISSN: 0038-4941; 1540-6237
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6237.2011.00754.x

Objective. We examine how the immigration policy preferences of Anglos and Latinos vary according to ethnic context. Specifically, we hypothesize that immigration policy attitudes are a product of both Latino immigrant and Latino native born group size. In contrast to previous work, which found that Latinos and Anglos react to contextual forces in an identical manner, we argue that Latino group size produces opposite reactions for Anglos and Latinos. Methods. These hypotheses are tested using an original state-wide survey of Anglos and Latinos in Texas conducted during 2006, which is supplemented with data from the 2000 Census. Results. Our findings show that residing in a heavily Latino area produces more liberal immigration attitudes among Latinos and more conservative attitudes among Anglos. However, this result is driven not by the size of the foreignborn Latino population, but by the size of the native-born Latino population. Conclusion. Anti-immigrant sentiments among Anglos appear to result, at least in part, from ethnic concerns.