Give me sanctuary! The impact of personal freedom afforded by sanctuary cities on the 2010 undocumented immigrant settlement pattern within the U.S., 2SLS estimates

Abstract

This study has endeavored to identify key factors that influenced the settlement pattern of undocumented immigrants among the 50 U.S. states as of the year 2010. The principal focus of the study is the potential impact of Sanctuary cities on the settlement pattern of undocumented immigrants, although both economic and environmental (weather) conditions are included in the analysis as well. The model is estimated by 2SLS both in linear form and semi-log form. Both estimation results imply that the state-level settlement pattern of undocumented immigrants was an increasing function of per capita personal income while being a decreasing function of the cost of living, colder climate, and greater humidity. More relevantly, the state-level settlement pattern of these immigrants was found to be an increasing function of the number of Sanctuary cities in each state. Among other things, then, the results in this study imply that the well-being of the undocumented immigrant population residing in the U.S. was positively affected by a greater number of Sanctuary cities and the accompanying personal freedom afforded by non-reporting of suspected undocumented immigrants to federal authorities.