Police Arrests in a Time of Uncertainty: The Impact of 287(g) on Driver’s License Arrests in a New Immigrant Gateway

Abstract

Since the late 20th century, the U.S. immigrant population has become more geographically diverse. Although some new destinations welcome the influx of new residents, others implement a variety of harsh local anti-immigration policies and programs. This paper examines how 287(g) affects both U.S.-born and foreign-born populations. The analysis relies on a novel data set of 5,583 driver’s license-related police narratives from arrests that occurred between 2005 and 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. I examine whether and how the implementation of 287(g) affects the initial traffic stops made by police. The analysis reveals sizeable period differences in the initial traffic stops for foreign-born and U.S.-born individuals and demonstrates a shift in the language used to indicate foreignness in the narratives over time.