Working Paper: NBER ID: w24731
Authors: Marcella Alsan; Crystal Yang
Abstract: This paper studies how changes in deportation fear induced by the roll-out of Secure Communities (SC), a far-reaching immigration enforcement program, affected the demand for safety net programs in the United States. We estimate the spillover effect of SC on the take-up of federal means-tested programs by Hispanic citizens, who are not themselves eligible for removal. We find significant declines in SNAP and SSI enrollment, particularly among mixed-citizenship status households. The response is muted for Hispanic households residing in sanctuary cities. Our results are most consistent with network effects that perpetuate fear rather than lack of benefit information, measurement error, or stigma.
Keywords: immigration enforcement; safety net participation; deportation fear; Hispanic citizens
JEL Codes: I14; I3; K00; K37
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Hispanic citizen households' food stamp (SNAP) participation (H53) | Hispanic citizen households' Supplemental Security Income (SSI) participation (H53) |
| Secure Communities (SC) program activation (J68) | Hispanic citizen households' food stamp (SNAP) participation (H53) |
| Secure Communities (SC) program activation (J68) | Hispanic citizen households' Supplemental Security Income (SSI) participation (H53) |
| Fear of deportation (K37) | Hispanic citizen households' food stamp (SNAP) participation (H53) |
| Fear of deportation (K37) | Hispanic citizen households' Supplemental Security Income (SSI) participation (H53) |