Showing papers in "International Migration Review in 2008"
TL;DR: The authors analyzes why immigrant religion is viewed as a problematic area in Western Europe in contrast to the United States, where it is seen as facilitating the adaptation process, and argues that the difference, it is argued, is anchored in whether or not religion can play a major role for immigrants and the second generation as a bridge to inclusion in the new society.
Abstract: This article analyzes why immigrant religion is viewed as a problematic area in Western Europe in contrast to the United States, where it is seen as facilitating the adaptation process. The difference, it is argued, is anchored in whether or not religion can play a major role for immigrants and the second generation as a bridge to inclusion in the new society. Three factors are critical: the religious backgrounds of immigrants in Western Europe and the United States; the religiosity of the native population; and historically rooted relations and arrangements between the state and religious groups.
506 citations
TL;DR: The authors examines the relationship between the number and rights of low-skilled migrants in high-income countries and identifies a trade-off: countries with large numbers of lowskilled migrants offer them relatively few rights, while smaller numbers of migrants are typically associated with more rights.
Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between the number and rights of low-skilled migrant workers in high-income countries. It identifies a trade-off: Countries with large numbers of low-skilled migrant workers offer them relatively few rights, while smaller numbers of migrants are typically associated with more rights. We discuss the number-vs.-rights trade-off in theory and practice as an example of competing goods, raising the question of whether numbers of migrants or rights of migrants should get higher priority. There is no easy or universal answer, but avoiding an explicit discussion of the issue – as has been done in recent guest worker debates – can obscure an important policy choice.
322 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined attitudes toward immigrants and immigration policy based on a random sample of 2,020 New Zealand households and found that New Zealanders have positive attitudes towards immigrants and endorse multiculturalism to a greater extent than Australians and EU citizens.
Abstract: The research examines attitudes toward immigrants and immigration policy based on a random sample of 2,020 New Zealand households. The analyses revealed that New Zealanders have positive attitudes toward immigrants and endorse multiculturalism to a greater extent than Australians and EU citizens. In addition, structural equation modeling produced an excellent fit of the data to a social psychological model commencing with multicultural ideology and intercultural contact as exogenous variables, leading, in turn, to diminished perceptions of threat, more positive attitudes toward immigrants, and, finally, support for New Zealand's policies on the number and sources of migrants.
266 citations
TL;DR: This article examined how family relations, ties, remittance behavior, and settlement experiences are disrupted by deportation, and how these ties influence future migration intentions, finding that a significant number of deportees were long-term settlers in the United States.
Abstract: Since the mid-1990s the United States has enacted a series of laws that make it easier to deport noncitizens. Drawing on findings from interviews with a random sample of 300 Salvadoran deportees, we examine how family relations, ties, remittance behavior, and settlement experiences are disrupted by deportation, and how these ties influence future migration intentions. We find that a significant number of deportees were long-term settlers in the United States. Many had established work histories and had formed families of their own. These strong social ties in turn influence the likelihood of repeat migration to the United States.
226 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide an empirical assessment of the prevalence and determinants of cross-state social exchanges and attachments among Latin American immigrants living in the United States and show that neither transnationalism as condition of being, nor transmigrants, as distinctive class of people, is commonly found.
Abstract: This paper provides an empirical assessment of the prevalence and determinants of cross-state social exchanges and attachments among Latin American immigrants living in the United States. As we shall show, using data from a recent survey of Latin American migrants living in the United States, migrant cross-state social action comes in a variety of types, with the direction of conditioning factors differing from one type to another. Moreover, social and political incorporation in the United States reduces affective ties and provision of material support, all the while facilitating other forms of cross-state social action. Consequently, while international migrants regularly engage in trans-state social action, the paper shows that neither transnationalism as condition of being, nor transmigrants, as distinctive class of people, is commonly found.
204 citations
TL;DR: Examination of health differences between immigrants and the native-born populations aged 50 years and older in 11 European countries finds that growing numbers of immigrants may portend more health problems in the population in subsequent years.
Abstract: The health of older immigrants can have important consequences for needed social support and demands placed on health systems. This paper examines health differences between immigrants and the native-born populations aged 50 years and older in 11 European countries. We examine differences in functional ability, disability, disease presence, and behavioral risk factors for immigrants and nonimmigrants using data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) database. Among the 11 European countries, migrants generally have worse health than the native population. In these countries, there is a little evidence of the “healthy migrant” at ages 50 years and over. In general, it appears that growing numbers of immigrants may portend more health problems in the population in subsequent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
191 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report the apparent paradox of high levels of discrimination experienced by humanitarian migrants to Australia, in the labor market and everyday life, yet simultaneous reporting of positive well-being.
Abstract: This paper reports the apparent paradox of high levels of discrimination experienced by humanitarian migrants to Australia, in the labor market and everyday life, yet simultaneous reporting of positive well-being. How can people feel discriminated against, yet still be relatively satisfied with life? The study draws on quantitative and qualitative data from a study of 150 refugees from the former Yugoslavia, the Middle East, and Africa. Possible reasons for the level of well-being are explored, including “relative deprivation theory,” as well as various resiliency and mitigating factors, including personal and social supports. The notion of eudaimonic well-being – whereby experiences of difficulty produce positive well-being – is also applied to the findings. The negative experiences and perceptions appear to map onto low-level dissatisfaction or disgruntlement, and specifically directed or contained disappointment, rather than serious dissatisfaction with life generally, orientation to Australia, or negative subjective well-being.
167 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors show that migration flows react to economic incentives, mainly with regard to the labor market, but also to cultural and colonial linkages, and that immigrants are not attracted by high levels of social expenditure.
Abstract: Various theoretical approaches have provided us with insights to explain the pattern of migration flows. Economic theory considers migration to be a reaction to labor market and economic incentives. Cultural theories predict that migration flows will occur according to a center-periphery pattern, while social network analysis assumes that migrants follow already established migration networks. We test these three approaches simultaneously, using OECD and Eurostat data on the migrant inflow into the European countries between 1980 and 2004. The analysis demonstrates that migration flows react to economic incentives, mainly with regard to the labor market, but also to cultural and colonial linkages. There is no indication that the importance of the colonial past is declining over time. The response of migration patterns to shortages in the labor market is shown to be highly efficient, while the analysis shows that immigrants are not attracted by high levels of social expenditure.
164 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined how individual-level characteristics and national context affect attitudes toward immigration and found that far from being a continuum, being anti-immigration and being pro-immigration are qualitatively different.
Abstract: In this paper we examine how individual-level characteristics and national context affect attitudes toward immigration Although many previous studies have compared attitudes toward immigration across countries, little attention has been paid to how attitudes may be affected by changes within a country over time We take advantage of seventeen national Canadian Gallup surveys to consider how differences in national economic conditions and changing immigration flows affect attitudes and changes in attitudes between 1975 and 2000 While the state of the national economy affects attitudes this is not the case for the rate of immigration Rather than affecting some groups more than others the state of the economy has a relatively uniform effect across groups Our results also show that far from being a continuum, being anti-immigration and being pro-immigration are qualitatively different Interest, ideology, and the national economy affect anti-immigration sentiments, but only ideology affects pro-immigration sentiments
162 citations
TL;DR: This article examined the factors associated with temporary migrants' decision to become or not become permanent residents and the reasons for their decision, using survey data on skilled temporary migrants in Australia and discussed the likely effectiveness of temporary migration programs that assume temporary migrants will return home.
Abstract: While most countries of destination of temporary migrants expect them to return home, it is likely that some temporary migration will become permanent if the migrants decide that they would like to remain longer or indefinitely for various reasons. This paper examines the factors associated with temporary migrants’ decision to become or not become permanent residents and the reasons for their decision, using survey data on skilled temporary migrants in Australia. It also looks at whether temporary migration facilitates or substitutes for permanent migration and discusses the likely effectiveness of temporary migration programs that assume temporary migrants will return home.
144 citations
TL;DR: This article found that nearly half of all immigrant-origin job changers found their positions through networks and that the most vulnerable to unemployment were especially likely to rely on them, and that jobs found through networks were as likely to lead to improved working conditions as jobs acquired through more formal means.
Abstract: Though information about jobs passed through personal networks has been central to the labor market integration of immigrants in the United States, its role in the economic absorption of immigrants in Germany, where jobs are scarcer and employers more likely to demand formal qualifications, is less clear. Through analysis of German Socio-Economic Panel data, we discovered that nearly half of all immigrant-origin job changers found their positions through networks and that the most vulnerable to unemployment – the young and the less educated – were especially likely to rely on them. Also, jobs found through networks were as likely to lead to improved working conditions as jobs acquired through more formal means. These findings have implications both for debates about assimilation and for social policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed the legislation pertaining to dual citizenship in 115 countries and found that dual citizenship is becoming increasingly accepted, a development that has predominantly taken place within the last 20 years and a strong regional pattern is identified, supporting the argument that dual nationality is spreading in a fashion similar to how the idea of citizenship expanded from Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Abstract: Global developments in dual citizenship legislation highlight changes to conceptualizations of citizenship by increasing the focus on individual rights. Questions of inclusion and exclusion have been illuminated by the move toward wider acceptance of dual citizenship. To understand global patterns and developments in dual citizenship laws this article analyzes the legislation pertaining to dual citizenship in 115 countries. The results show how dual citizenship is becoming increasingly accepted – a development that has predominantly taken place within the last 20 years. A strong regional pattern is identified, supporting the argument that dual citizenship is spreading in a fashion similar to how the idea of citizenship expanded from Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. Potential internal and external reasons for this development are discussed and individual countries’ experiences analyzed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used data from a nationally representative sample of immigrants and natives drawn in 2005 to assess the occupational attainment of immigrants in Ireland relative to natives, finding that immigrants, on average, are less likely to be in high-level occupations controlling for factors such as age and education.
Abstract: Ireland has experienced a remarkable change in its migratory patterns in recent years and has moved from experiencing large-scale emigration to receiving significant inflows. In this paper, we use data from a nationally representative sample of immigrants and natives drawn in 2005 to assess the occupational attainment of immigrants in Ireland relative to natives. It is found that immigrants, on average, are less likely to be in high-level occupations controlling for factors such as age and education. When looked at by year of arrival, it appears as if immigrants who arrived more recently have lower occupational attainment relative to earlier arrivals, thereby suggesting a process of integration. However, a closer analysis shows that the observation of better occupational attainment for earlier arrivals can be explained by a change in the national origin mix of Ireland's immigrants, with immigrants from the New Member States of the European Union having the lowest occupational attainment. Within national groups there is generally no clear evidence of improved occupational attainment over time.
TL;DR: This article examined the relationship between individual-level characteristics and diverse U.S. destinations chosen by post-1965 Mexican immigrants and found that the importance of human capital, social networks, and temporal context in directing immigrants to particular US. sites.
Abstract: Although U.S. Latinos continue to be concentrated in particular places, many have shifted to “new” locations around the country. This study employs data from the Mexican Migration Project (MMP107) to examine the relationship between individual-level characteristics and diverse U.S. destinations chosen by post-1965 Mexican immigrants. Multinomial logistic regression analyses confirm the importance of human capital, social networks, and temporal context in directing immigrants to particular U.S. sites. The findings also suggest that employing a typology of U.S. destinations is useful for understanding the spatial distributions of contemporary Mexican immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used 2001 Spanish census microdata and multivariate logistic regression analysis to explore differences in marriage patterns between the foreign-born population in Spain, a country that has experienced a dramatic increase in international migration rates in the last decade.
Abstract: We use 2001 Spanish census microdata and multivariate logistic regression analysis to explore differences in marriage patterns between the foreign-born population in Spain, a country that has experienced a dramatic increase in international migration rates in the last decade. In particular, we examine separately the prevalence of being in a consensual and in an endogamous union for a selected and representative group of origins. Results show that after controlling for individual and union characteristics, major differences in cohabitation between groups disappear while major differences in endogamy prevail. This suggests that, when appropriate data are available, future research should take into account contextual factors.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate differences in the ways in which men and women make their way across the well-guarded Mexico-U.S. border, and the extent to which women by the end of the 1990s were similar to, or different from, their counterparts who crossed before 1986 and the implementation of immigration policy designed to reduce undocumented migration.
Abstract: This paper provides new insights into the process of undocumented border crossing by examining both men and women in the process. We investigate differences in the ways in which men and women make their way across the well-guarded Mexico-U.S. border, and the extent to which men and women by the end of the 1990s were similar to, or different from, their counterparts who crossed before 1986 and the implementation of immigration policy designed to reduce undocumented migration. We find substantial differences in how men and women crossed the border without legal documents and in their chances of being apprehended. Our analysis makes clear that shifts in U.S. immigration policy after 1986 have led to women's greater reliance on the assistance of paid smugglers to cross without documents but men were more likely to cross alone. Moreover, immediately after 1986, women on first U.S. trips faced higher risks of being apprehended compared to women who migrated in the early 1980s, but men faced lower risks. After accumulating some U.S. experience, however, both women and men faced lower risks of being detected after 1986 compared to earlier in that decade.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined mortality among late-life Soviet Jewish immigrants in Israel, and the contribution of post-migration work status to their survival, and found that mortality was associated with older age, male gender, morbidity, and having less resourceful social networks.
Abstract: This analysis examined mortality among late-life Soviet Jewish immigrants in Israel, and the contribution of post-migration work status to their survival. The study linked 1997 survey data to mortality records, seven years hence. The results revealed that mortality was associated with older age, male gender, morbidity, and having less resourceful social networks. More importantly, after controlling for these background variables work status remained a significant correlate. Late-life immigrants who had never worked in the host country had a significantly greater risk of death than their immigrant counterparts who had ever worked (or were still working).
TL;DR: The network saturation theory as discussed by the authors claims that high-volume migration of Mexicans finally saturated the housing and job opportunities of Mexicans in traditional states and especially in Los Angeles, and high rents and low wages then encouraged Mexican immigrants to select new states for settlement.
Abstract: Between 1980 and 2000, about 1.2 million Mexican immigrants settled in 47 new settlement states. In the past, these immigrants would have settled in California, Texas, or Illinois, the three traditional states for Mexican settlement. Explaining this dispersion, the network saturation theory claims that high-volume migration of Mexicans finally saturated the housing and job opportunities of Mexicans in traditional states and especially in Los Angeles. High rents and low wages then encouraged Mexican immigrants to select new states for settlement. This article subjects the network saturation theory to a rigorous reanalysis using new evidence. The empirical results tend to confirm the network saturation theory.
TL;DR: In this article, political liberals' activism vis-a-vis migrant workers is two-pronged: first, to afford more rights to all migrant workers and, second, to guarantee equal treatment to all ethnic Koreans.
Abstract: Recently, Korean low-skilled foreign labor policies have changed in contradictory ways. On the one hand, Korea seems to be moving in a “liberal” direction, because the government is according more rights to foreign workers. On the other hand, Korea seems to be moving in an “illiberal” direction, because the government is according ethnic Korean workers preferential treatment over other foreign workers. I explain this contradictory situation in terms of political liberals’ activism. Korean political liberals’ activism vis-a-vis migrant workers is two-pronged: first, to afford more rights to all migrant workers and, second, to guarantee equal treatment to all ethnic Koreans. Taken separately, each move is in line with the political liberal principle of promoting nonascriptive, universalistic, and equal treatment. Taken together, these two moves are inherently contradictory – one pushes toward ethnicizing trends and the other pushes toward de-ethnicizing trends of immigration policies. This contradiction, which I call the political liberals’ dilemma, divides political liberals and weakens their overall political leverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
TL;DR: This article developed a framework for estimating previous illegal experience among annual cohorts of new legal immigrants to the United States and provided estimates for the FY 1996 cohort of new immigrants, based on both administrative and survey data.
Abstract: This paper develops a framework for estimating previous illegal experience among annual cohorts of new legal immigrants to the United States – using public-use administrative microdata alone, survey data alone, and the two jointly – and provides estimates for the FY 1996 cohort of new immigrants, based on both administrative and survey data. Our procedures enable assessment of type of illegal experience, including entry without inspection, visa overstay, and unauthorized employment. We compare our estimates of previous illegal experience to estimates that would be obtained using administrative data alone; examine the extent of previous illegal experience by country of birth, immigrant class of admission, religion, and geographic residence in the United States; and estimate multivariate models of the probability of having previous illegal experience. To further assess origins and destinations, we carry out two kinds of contrasts, comparing formerly illegal new legal immigrants both to fellow immigrants who do not have previous illegal experience and also to the broader unauthorized population, the latter using estimates developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2002 ), Passel (2002 ), and Costanzo et al. (2002 ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
TL;DR: In this article, poverty dynamics among successive cohorts of entering immigrants to Canada, and whether rising educational attainment and increasing share in the skilled class since the early 1990s has resulted in improvements in poverty entry, exit, and chronic poverty.
Abstract: This paper examines two issues: (1) poverty dynamics among successive cohorts of entering immigrants to Canada, and (2) whether rising educational attainment and increasing share in the “skilled” class since the early 1990s has resulted in improvements in poverty entry, exit, and chronic poverty. The entry to poverty is very high during the first year in Canada, but low in subsequent years. The dramatic move toward more labor-market friendly characteristics of entering immigrants had only a very small effect on poverty outcomes, in part because the relative advantage of holding a degree diminished, and “skilled economic” class immigrants were more likely to enter poverty than their “family” class counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
TL;DR: The authors examined the differences associated with the patterns and determinants of women's market employment by migration status and ethnic origin and found that ethnic employment was an important issue in the immigrant labor market assimilation approach.
Abstract: This paper examines the differences associated with the patterns and determinants of women's market employment by migration status and ethnic origin. Considering “ethnic employment” as an important issue in the immigrant labor market assimilation approach and migrants’ success in the labor market as a key indication of their settlement in the host country, the results of this paper provide a basis to reassess the patterns and determinants associated with the settlement of female migrants in the multiethnic and multicultural labor market of Australia as “a particularly interesting society in which to examine how immigrant women adapt to [a] new labour market” ( Evans, 1984 :1063). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined young people's intentions to migrate abroad in Kyrgyzstan, focusing in particular on differences between Asian and European-origin ethnic groups, and found that temporary migration among Asians and permanent migration among Europeans are dominant ethnic-specific migration preference types.
Abstract: This study examines young people's intentions to migrate abroad in Kyrgyzstan, focusing in particular on differences between Asian and European-origin ethnic groups. The multivariate analyses of recent survey data show that even after controlling for socioeconomic characteristics and social embeddedness Europeans are significantly more inclined to migrate than Asians. Whereas no gender differences in migration intentions among either group are detected, marriage, childbearing, and social capital exhibit distinct ethnic-specific effects. Although economic considerations are prevailing stimuli for migration in both groups, the results point to the formation of two dominant ethnic-specific migration preference types – for temporary migration among Asians and permanent migration among Europeans.
TL;DR: This paper examined the relationship between educational attainment and the likelihood of employment among native-born African migrants returning home from abroad and found that returning migrants with university degrees and vocational credentials were more likely to be employed than their non-migrant and immigrant counterparts.
Abstract: The return migration of skilled professionals has been suggested as a policy instrument suitable for reversing the large-scale emigration of skilled professionals from African countries. However, there are no empirical studies showing how migrant professionals from Africa are reintegrated into the labor market after they return. This study examines the relationship between educational attainment and the likelihood of employment among native-born African migrants returning home from abroad. The study focuses on the evidence from Uganda since this country has one of the longest histories of skilled migration in Africa. The results show that returning migrants with university degrees and vocational credentials are more likely to be employed than their nonmigrant and immigrant counterparts. However, this employment advantage was not observed among returning migrants with secondary schooling or below. Furthermore, the results show that returning migrants are generally more likely to be employed as district employment rates increase.
TL;DR: In this paper, a tiered model of politicized ethnic identity emphasizing both individual-level traits and group/collective properties was developed to understand why ethnic diaspora in the United States differ in their readiness for political mobilization on behalf of homeland interests.
Abstract: Why do ethnic diasporas in the United States differ in their readiness for political mobilization on behalf of homeland interests? This study develops a tiered model of politicized ethnic identity emphasizing both individual-level traits and group/collective properties. Using Zogby “Culture Polls,” the theory is tested on three Middle Eastern heritage groups in the United States (Jews, Arab Christians, Arab Muslims). Empirical analysis confirms that individuals differ in their readiness for mobilization around Middle East issues based on the strength of ties to the ethnic community and, net of such differences, each group varies based on the contexts of exit and reception it faced at the time of immigration. The findings suggest that studies of diaspora influence on American foreign policy need to take account of the mass base rather than focus exclusively on elite behavior.
Abstract: Why did some states adopt stringent TANF-eligibility policies toward immigrants, while others implemented more lenient rules throughout the post-1996 welfare reform period? We use immigrant-specific welfare rule measures to examine predominant theoretical frameworks for understanding state stringency in welfare policy. Analysis, utilizing a simultaneous equations modeling (SEM) strategy, uses annual data for all states. Results show consistent support for the median voter (primarily, the percent of liberal voters) theoretical explanation for less stringent state welfare eligibility rules regarding immigrants. While the size of the Social-Security-recipient population (tax capacity indicator) and perhaps unacceptable reproductive behavior (teen birth rate) relate to more stringent rules, key state economic and fiscal characteristics (i.e., per capita welfare expenditures, per capita personal income) explain less stringent TANF eligibility rules. Importantly, recent immigrant population concentration patterns (in new and traditional destination states) add to the theoretical explanation of less stringent state TANF immigrant eligibility policies.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors distinguish three theoretical accounts of convergence: global-institutionalist, liberal-democratic, and problem-solving perspectives and examine trends in foreigners' rights in Japan since World War II in three domains: entrance, rights of residents, and citizenship.
Abstract: Citizenship laws and immigrant rights in rich, democratic countries are widely understood to be converging. Since most accounts of convergence are based on Western examples, Japan is an important test case. I distinguish three theoretical accounts of convergence: global-institutionalist, liberal-democratic, and problem-solving perspectives. I then examine trends in foreigners' rights in Japan since World War II in three domains: entrance, rights of residents, and citizenship. I find that convergence is occurring in the expansion of rights, partially in access to the territory, but not in formal citizenship. While the liberal-democratic perspective fails to account for trends, a combination of global-institutionalist and problem-solving accounts provides the most powerful analytic insight into convergence processes.
TL;DR: The authors employed the New Immigrant Survey-2003 to examine the housing tenure of immigrants recently adjusted to new legal permanent resident status, revealing important cross-national differences in the linkages between transfers to the origin country, relationships with U.S. mainstream financial institutions, previous unauthorized experience, and housing tenure.
Abstract: Immigrants represent an increasingly vital component of the U.S. housing market, though there is a substantial and growing gap in homeownership rates between natives and the foreign born. We employ the New Immigrant Survey-2003 to examine the housing tenure of immigrants recently adjusted to new legal permanent resident status. The results reveal important cross-national differences in the linkages between transfers to the origin country, relationships with U.S. mainstream financial institutions, previous unauthorized experience, and housing tenure. Analyses also document that immigrants occupy three distinct housing outcomes in America; renting, owning, and living for free.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors lay out a foundation for a demographic perspective on the development of immigrant communities, which can strengthen the connections between in-depth ethnographic analysis and macro-level trends.
Abstract: This article lays out a foundation for a demographic perspective on the development of immigrant communities. Such a perspective can strengthen the connections between in-depth ethnographic analysis and macro-level trends. New applications of the so-called Lexis diagram are introduced in order to relate the current composition of immigrant communities to past immigration policy and migration patterns. The article also explores relationships between the demographic structure of immigrant populations and their transnational orientation. The analyses are demonstrated empirically through a case study of migration from Cape Verde to the Netherlands.
TL;DR: This article found that Americans tend to be divided in their attitudes toward a guest worker program, although support for temporary worker policies is stronger when legalization for unauthorized immigrants is conditioned on certain requirements, and when the program is coupled with enhanced border security.
Abstract: In this study we use data from a 2004 New York Times/CBS News national survey to analyze public opinion toward a guest worker program and to compare predictors of support for guest worker and general immigration policies. In general, Americans tend to be divided in their attitudes toward a guest worker program, although support for temporary worker policies is stronger when legalization for unauthorized immigrants is conditioned on certain requirements, and when the program is coupled with enhanced border security. The results of the bivariate probit analysis indicate that individuals who favor reducing the immigration level also tend to oppose instituting a guest worker program. Perceptions of the “costs” of immigration emerged as the most important determinant of individuals’ attitudes toward immigration policies; such beliefs contributed to opposition to a guest worker policy and support for reducing the immigration level. We also found that residents of high-immigration states and Latinos were more likely to support a temporary worker program. However, these characteristics do not appear to influence individuals’ judgments about the number of immigrants who should be admitted to the United States. Findings regarding the impact of political partisanship and ideology on attitudes toward the two policies were more ambiguous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]