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Cost of Being a Mexican Immigrant and Being a Mexican Non-Citizen in California and Texas

Author: Takei, Isao


This study examines the labor market costs associated with being foreign-born and not having U.S. citizenship among Mexicans in California and Texas, the two largest states. Results show that being an immigrant, particularly a non citizen immigrant, is associated with lower hourly wages in CA as compared with TX. Results also indicate that these costs are greater for those who arrived after 1990, especially in CA. Findings suggest that Mexican immigrants faced harsher social context in CA in the post-IRCA (Immigration Reform and Control Act) period, as represented in anti-immigrant policies and sentiments. Partly, larger population concentrations of immigrants, especially non citizens, could be a source of intensive within-group labor market competition among the foreign born workers.

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Number of Pages: 23