Managing Illegal Immigration to the United States

How Effective Is Enforcement?

Report

Overview

The authors examine U.S. efforts to prevent illegal immigration to the United States. Although the United States has witnessed a sharp drop in illegal border crossings in the past decade alongside an enormous increase in government activities to prevent illegal immigration, there remains little understanding of the role enforcement has played. Better data and analyses to assist lawmakers in crafting more successful policies and to support administration officials in implementing these policies are long overdue.

Bryan Roberts

Senior Economist, Econometrica, Inc.

Edward Alden
Edward Alden

Bernard L. Schwartz Senior Fellow

John Whitley

Adjunct Lecturer, George Washington University

Download the appendixes for this report [PDF].


Professors: To request an exam copy, contact Ashley Bregman at [email protected]. Please include your university and course name.

More on:

Immigration and Migration

Mexico

United States

Bookstores: To order bulk copies, please contact Ingram. Visit https://ipage.ingrambook.com, call 800.234.6737, or email [email protected]. ISBN: 978-0-87609-556-0

More on:

Immigration and Migration

Mexico

United States

Top Stories on CFR

India

The election date for the world’s largest democracy is set to begin April 19 and last six weeks. What would the results of a third term for Prime Minister Modi mean for India’s economy, democracy, and position in the Global South? 

RealEcon

The response to the temporary closure of the Port of Baltimore—from a deadly tanker collision—demonstrates the resilience of U.S. supply chains despite fears of costly disruptions.

Terrorism and Counterterrorism

Violence around U.S. elections in 2024 could not only destabilize American democracy but also embolden autocrats across the world. Jacob Ware recommends that political leaders take steps to shore up civic trust and remove the opportunity for violence ahead of the 2024 election season.