Labor Market Shocks and Immigration Enforcement

We study the effects of labor market shocks on immigration enforcement by evaluating the impact of the Great Recession on the likelihood that commuting zones partner with immigration authorities through 287(g) agreements and early adoption of Secure Communities or become subject to E-Verify mandates. Using a difference-in-difference framework, we find that a 1 percentage point increase in the Great Recession-driven unemployment rate is associated with a 1 percentage point increase in the likelihood of signing a 287(g) agreement and adopting Secure Communities early and a 2 to 3 percentage point increase in the likelihood of adopting E-Verify.