Date of Award

Spring 5-22-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of arts (BA)

Department

Global Honors

First Advisor

Rachel Hershberg

Abstract

The United States has always been unique in terms of our system of government, and as political tensions continue to rise the debate over immigration policies has only grown more polarized. Although all of the states in the U.S. are required to abide by Federal Law, each state has the jurisdiction to create laws and bills that are then observed within that particular state. The result of such drastic variations between state policies is that vulnerable populations, such as undocumented or mixed status immigrants and their families are at a higher risk than legal U.S. citizens for increased discrimination, educational disparities and psychological distress.

This essay will provide a case comparison between two recent anti-immigration policies: California Proposition 187 and Arizona Senate Bill 1070. Both of these states' policies are unique for the ways in which they promoted discrimination towards undocumented or mixed status families living in California and Arizona. The different effects that these two bills promoted has resulted in different psychosocial outcomes for undocumented or mixed status individuals. By recognizing the way in which anti-immigration legislation creates opportunity disparities between states, we can work towards creating more equitable laws that don’t create such large gaps in the treatment of undocumented or mixed status individuals and their families.

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