Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

We explore whether fear of apprehension affects immigrants’ willingness to engage in labor market activities by examining the impact of ICE removals due to immigration violations, as well as increased awareness of immigration raids and enforcement, on immigrants’ labor market outcomes. We find that ICE deportations are associated with reductions in the labor force participation and employment of likely undocumented immigrants, when compared to similarly skilled foreign-born U.S. citizens. Effects are especially strong among women and in industries likely to be targeted by ICE raids. Controlling for perceived threats and de jure immigration policies has little impact on these results.