Citation

San Miguel C, Miller JM, Kwak D, Lee-Gonyea JA, Gonyea NE. J. Contemp. Crim. Justice 2011; 27(1): 95-109.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1043986211402251

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Immigration, particularly the illegal immigration of Mexicans, has emerged as one of the nation's foremost social problems. This study explores attitudes toward illegal immigrants among a sample of Hispanic college students of primarily Mexican decent ( N = 216). Through an intrarace inquiry strategy, we examine whether illegal immigrants (a) are a growing problem in the United States, (b) contribute to the decline of society, and (c) are more likely than other groups in the United States to break the law. Findings reveal that college students with positive attitudes toward Mexico and the Mexican culture were more likely to hold negative attitudes toward illegal immigrants. Gender, annual household income, and college major were also found to be statistically significant predictors of attitude toward illegal immigrants. As Hispanics constitute the largest voting minority group, the impact of the findings on public policy, including implications for the criminal justice system, are discussed.