Working Paper: NBER ID: w27874
Authors: Elizabeth U. Cascio; Ethan G. Lewis
Abstract: Does opening the door to U.S. citizenship for unauthorized immigrants cause out- of-control “chain migration”? We address this question using variation from the legalization programs of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA). Exploiting IRCA’s introduction and differences across metropolitan areas in program intensity, we estimate that each IRCA-legalized Mexican was responsible for the subsequent immigration and legal admission of one relative – in total – through 2019. Most sponsored relatives were immediate family, and the adult sponsorship rate is inconsistent with out-of-control chain migration. Estimates using cross-country variation are substantively similar and suggest limited demand for reunification of extended families.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: F22; J08; J61; J68
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Immigrant legalization through IRCA (K37) | Family reunification (J12) |
| Mexican immigrant legalization (K37) | Sponsorship of relatives (F24) |
| Sponsorship of relatives (F24) | Chain migration (F22) |
| IRCA admissions (K23) | Sponsorship rate of relatives (Z23) |
| Existing legal immigrants and local labor market conditions (K37) | Family reunification (J12) |