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The Influence of a Change in Immigration Law on US Marriage Rates

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  • Claudia Smith Kelly

    (Seidman College of Business, Grand Valley State University, 452C DeVos Center, 401 W. Fulton Street, Grand Rapids MI 49504, USA)

Abstract

This article analyzes how a change in immigration law can affect the marriage behavior of immigrants. The Legal Immigration and Family Equity (LIFE) Act of 2000 provided a 4-month period in which certain undocumented immigrants could complete the legalization process without having to return to their countries of origin. Marriage to a US citizen or legal immigrant is one way undocumented immigrants can qualify for the immigration benefit provided by the LIFE Act of 2000. Examining marriage behavior before, during, and after the law change indicates that the immigration law change affected the marital decisions of immigrants.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia Smith Kelly, 2010. "The Influence of a Change in Immigration Law on US Marriage Rates," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 36(4), pages 500-522.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:easeco:v:36:y:2010:i:4:p:500-522
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    Cited by:

    1. Dong, Xiaoqi & Liang, Yinhe & Zhang, Jiawei, 2023. "Fertility responses to the relaxation of migration restrictions: Evidence from the Hukou reform in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    2. Eva Dziadula, 2020. "Marriage and Citizenship Among U.S. Immigrants: Who Marries Whom and Who Becomes a Citizen?," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 46(1), pages 34-52, January.
    3. Amuedo-Dorantes, Catalina & Arenas-Arroyo, Esther & Wang, Chunbei, 2020. "Is immigration enforcement shaping immigrant marriage patterns?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    4. Redpath, Connor, 2022. "Spousal Visa Policy and Mixed-Citizenship Couples: Evidence from the End of the Defense Of Marriage Act," SocArXiv mzuwe, Center for Open Science.
    5. Cynthia Bansak & Sarah Pearlman, 2022. "Marriage and immigration enforcement: The impact of Secure Communities on immigrant women," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 60(1), pages 351-372, January.
    6. Amuedo-Dorantes, Catalina & Wang, Chunbei, 2023. "Intermarriage amid Immigration Status Uncertainty: Evidence from DACA," IZA Discussion Papers 16548, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Bansak, Cynthia & Dziadula, Eva & Zavodny, Madeline, 2023. "The value of a green card in the U.S. marriage market: A tale of chain migration?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    8. Eva Dziadula, 2022. "Match quality and divorce among naturalized U.S. citizens," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 89(1), pages 37-61, July.

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