Beliefs About Immigrants and Support for Restrictive Immigration Policy in the United States
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Sociology and Psychology/Applied Behavior Analysis
Minor
Gender and Diversity Studies
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Nititham
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
ABSTRACT
This paper examines how Americans' beliefs that immigration increases crime shapes support for restrictive immigration policy today. Using 2020 ANES survey data, I test whether respondents who link "illegal immigration" to higher crime are more likely to prefer decreasing immigration, while accounting for party identification and trust in news media. The theoretical framework combines racialized threat and social dominance perspectives with political socialization and media framing. This is to explain how immigrant criminality becomes a symbolic cue for boundary making. Sociologically, the project extends scholarship by connecting crime narratives to policy preferences. It also clarifies how institutional messaging translates into public opinion.
Spring Scholars Week 2026
Political Science and Sociology Department Panel
Beliefs About Immigrants and Support for Restrictive Immigration Policy in the United States
ABSTRACT
This paper examines how Americans' beliefs that immigration increases crime shapes support for restrictive immigration policy today. Using 2020 ANES survey data, I test whether respondents who link "illegal immigration" to higher crime are more likely to prefer decreasing immigration, while accounting for party identification and trust in news media. The theoretical framework combines racialized threat and social dominance perspectives with political socialization and media framing. This is to explain how immigrant criminality becomes a symbolic cue for boundary making. Sociologically, the project extends scholarship by connecting crime narratives to policy preferences. It also clarifies how institutional messaging translates into public opinion.