Assessment of hispanic immigrants' opinions towards immigration and immigration policy reform proposals

Abstract

Immigration reform is the most polarizing legislative issues in the US. Surprisingly, despite regular polling evidence of the American public's attitudes towards immigration reform proposals, little evidence has elicited the preferences of the group most affected by any policy changes - legal and illegal Hispanic immigrants. This study presents evidence from a survey and choice experiment of Hispanic immigrants who entered the US illegally on their preferences and willingness to pay for different immigration reform proposals. Policy attributes, which are based on current competing US Senate and House bills, include pathways to legal permanent residence, length of temporary work visas, family visitation rights, and access to medical care. The results quantify the value Hispanic immigrants place on different policy attributes and suggest that longer term work visas are valued on par with legal permanent residence. Furthermore, the ability to legally work in the US is substantially more valued than social services such as medical care and social security benefits.