Walking <scp>ATMs</scp> Revisited: The Effect of Sanctuary Communities on Latino Robbery Victimization

Research shows that US Latinos are specifically targeted by street robbers who perceive them as suitable targets because they are undocumented, carry cash, and are reluctant to report their crimes to the police. Given robbers are unable to distinguish between native and foreign‐born Latinos, previous research has found a “spillover effect” whereby the presence of foreign‐born Latinos affects the victimization rates of all Latinos. But this effect may not hold in so‐called sanctuary cities, where local law enforcement limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Because Latino migrants in such counties face reduced risk of deportation and detention, they may be more likely to engage banks and carry less cash. Likewise, they may be more likely to report victimization to the police. Accordingly, we examine the presence of a robbery victimization spillover effect in both sanctuary and non‐sanctuary counties. Using the National Incident‐Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data from 471 counties, our results show (1) that the Latino robbery victimization rate is lower in Sanctuary (compared to non‐Sanctuary) counties and (2) that once the threat of deportation is reduced, robbers are less likely to target Latinos, thereby nullifying any “spillover” effect.