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DACA, Mobility Investments, and Economic Outcomes of Immigrants and Natives

Author

Listed:
  • Jimena Villanueva Kiser

    (Brigham Young University)

  • Riley Wilson

    (Brigham Young University)

Abstract

Exploiting variation created by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), we document the effects of immigrant legalization on immigrant mobility investments and economic outcomes. We provide new evidence that DACA increased both geographic and job mobility of young immigrants, often leading them to high-paying labor markets and licensed occupations. We then examine whether these gains to immigrants spill over and affect labor market outcomes of U.S.-born workers. Exploiting immigrant enclaves and source-country flows of DACA-eligible immigrants to isolate plausibly exogenous variation in the concentration of DACA recipients, we show that in labor markets where more of the working-age population can access legal protection through DACA, U.S.-born workers see little-to-no change in employment rates and actually observe increases in wage earnings after DACA’s implementation. These gains are concentrated among older and more educated workers, suggesting immigrant workers complement U.S.-born workers and immigrant legalization generates broader local labor market benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Jimena Villanueva Kiser & Riley Wilson, 2024. "DACA, Mobility Investments, and Economic Outcomes of Immigrants and Natives," Upjohn Working Papers 24-395, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:upj:weupjo:24-395
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Legal states; DACA; immigration; geographic mobility; job mobility; occupational licensing; local labor markets;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • K37 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Immigration Law
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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