Enforcement, Integration, and the Future of Immigration Federalism

In this paper, the author looks at the tension between federal and state and local policies on immigration enforcement and integration. The paper looks at “enforcement federalism,” the level of state and local cooperation or noncooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and “integration federalism,” the role of states and localities in promoting or impeding immigrant incorporation.  Within each of these areas of federalism, the author looks at the limits of federal power, and the limits of local resistance to that power.  She also examines the tension between state governments that may be hostile to immigrants and the more welcoming cities within those states. With the increasing polarization of our society, these tensions have become more pronounced. However, these tensions are entirely normal in our federalist system. “In an arena as ideologically contested as immigration policy, it should come as no surprise that our federal system will produce divergent policies and regular challenges to whatever might be the federal government’s reigning conception of immigration policy.” Ultimately, however, the most contested matter within immigration federalism—how to treat the undocumented population in this country—can only be resolved by federal action. (Maurice Belanger, Maurice Belanger Associates)

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