Abstract
Since September 11, 2001, local law enforcement has gained considerable de facto immigration enforcement authority. These federal-local partnerships have accelerated immigration enforcement practices and inspired a myriad of policies both supporting and resisting such partnerships. This extensive systematic qualitative literature review explores the role of local law enforcement in implementing immigration related policies. Three research questions are addressed: (1) How do local law enforcement agencies (LEAs) participate in immigration enforcement practices? (2) What might lead to some areas having more enforcement compared to other areas with less enforcement? (3) What factors might provide opportunities for empowerment, a sense of security, and/or security in the face of enforcement? Forty-three empirical research articles were identified through seven database searches and were analyzed with inductive coding. This review identifies three frameworks that shape local immigration policy, enforcement outcomes, sanctuary, and immigrant resistance and activism. These frameworks include demographic intensities, localized power structures, and institutionally formalized policy. These findings identify the inter-institutional processes underpinning local immigration policy, enforcement outcomes, sanctuary, and immigrant resistance and activism. By considering enforcement and sanctuary at multiple levels, educators and policy practitioners can better evaluate the efficacy of policy interventions and engage in advocacy efforts that support equitable social change that supports the safety of immigrant communities.
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Boyke, H., Horner, P.S. A Critical Framework for Analyzing the Impacts of Sub-Federal Immigration Policy in Post 9/11 United States. J of Pol Practice & Research 5, 30–47 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42972-023-00094-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42972-023-00094-5