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The Birth of Mass Unauthorized Immigration in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Elizabeth U. Cascio
  • Ethan G. Lewis
  • Aryen Shrestha

Abstract

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 imposed, for the first time in US history, annual numerical restrictions on lawful immigration from the Western Hemisphere. This paper introduces and implements a method for estimating highly granular local unauthorized rates in the wake of the surge in Latin American immigration that ensued. Using within-state, cross-county variation in these estimated unauthorized rates for foreign-born Mexican women and multiple comparison groups, we then estimate how maternal legal status affects the health of US-born—and thus US-citizen—children. We find that maternal authorization increases birth weight in the second generation.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth U. Cascio & Ethan G. Lewis & Aryen Shrestha, 2026. "The Birth of Mass Unauthorized Immigration in the United States," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 116, pages 337-343, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:apandp:v:116:y:2026:p:337-343
    DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20261098
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael A. Clemens & Ethan G. Lewis & Hannah M. Postel, 2018. "Immigration Restrictions as Active Labor Market Policy: Evidence from the Mexican Bracero Exclusion," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(6), pages 1468-1487, June.
    2. Abowd, John M. & Freeman, Richard B. (ed.), 1991. "Immigration, Trade, and the Labor Market," National Bureau of Economic Research Books, University of Chicago Press, edition 1, number 9780226000954, December.
    3. George J. Borjas & Richard B. Freeman & Lawrence F. Katz, 1992. "On the Labor Market Effects of Immigration and Trade," NBER Chapters, in: Immigration and the Work Force: Economic Consequences for the United States and Source Areas, pages 213-244, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Lee, Jongkwan & Peri, Giovanni & Yasenov, Vasil, 2022. "The labor market effects of Mexican repatriations: Longitudinal evidence from the 1930s," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    5. John M. Abowd & Richard B. Freeman, 1991. "Immigration, Trade, and the Labor Market," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number abow91-1.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • K37 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Immigration Law

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