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How Good are Proxies for Legal Status? Evidence from the Legalization of Two Million Mexicans

Author

Listed:
  • Elizabeth U. Cascio
  • Ethan G. Lewis
  • Chengguo Zhang

Abstract

Two million Mexicans were granted lawful permanent residency in the U.S. under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA). We find that a prominent proxy for legal status poorly detects this event. A decade after legalization, the share of Mexicans who are likely legal according to this proxy shows little change in survey data. Estimates rule out increases of three and eight percentage points relative to comparison groups of Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic Blacks, respectively – figures well below expectations based on administrative data. In contrast, an actual measure of status, citizenship, does rise in line with administrative facts.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth U. Cascio & Ethan G. Lewis & Chengguo Zhang, 2024. "How Good are Proxies for Legal Status? Evidence from the Legalization of Two Million Mexicans," NBER Working Papers 32632, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32632
    Note: CH EH LS PE
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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