Divided Loyalties? Understanding Variation in Latinos' Attitudes Toward Immigration

Abstract

Objective: In this article, we develop and test a model of competing theoretical explanations of Latinos’ attitudes toward immigration; specifically examining their policy preferences on legal immigration, illegal immigration, and a proposed policy for dealing with illegal immigrants. We also consider whether Latino attitudes toward legal and illegal immigration are related and comprise a single coherent structure. Method: Using data from a 2004 national survey of Latinos, we perform logit, ordered logit, and factor analysis to examine the determinants of Latinos’ attitudes toward immigration. Results: We highlight three important findings. First, our results demonstrate “within group” differences in immigration attitudes among Latinos, based on both national origin and generational status; we find that Mexicans are more pro-immigration than Latinos from other countries, and, foreign-born Latinos have much more positive attitudes about immigration than second-generation and third-generation Latinos. Second, we find that Latino support for various aspects of immigration is primarily a function of ethnic and linguistic identity and attachment to the American culture, with self interest, contextual variables, and political and demographic attributes playing a smaller, more specialized role. Finally, we demonstrate that Latino attitudes toward legal and illegal immigration are highly related. Conclusion: There is a coherent structure underlying Latinos’ attitudes toward legal immigration, illegal immigration, and a policy option for dealing with illegal immigrants. Our tests of competing theoretical approaches reveal the importance of national origin and ethnic attachment and acculturation in explaining differences among Latinos on their attitudes toward immigration.

Keywords: Latinos, immigration, immigration policy, attitudes