(Withdrawn) Collaborating for Local Immigration Reform: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Collaborative Process of Implementing Sanctuary Policy

Background and Purpose: Immigration policy has becoming increasingly punitive over time. As it relates to reform, immigration policy is typically implemented and enforced at the federal level, and amending it is very difficult. In an effort to help immigrant individuals and families striving to survive under such restrictive and punitive surveillance, states and cities have instituted “sanctuary” policy. This presentation serves as an overview of a qualitative study conducted to explore the process of securing sanctuary policy involving the implementation of a local ordinance limiting law enforcement from collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while also affording undocumented or unauthorized immigrants photo identification. This study will examine the collaborative process used by the creators and advocates of the ordinance who lobbied officials for its implementation with the objective of understanding the process of instituting sanctuary policy in a rural/urban setting.

Methods: Study objective guiding this research involved exploring the process involving implementing immigration sanctuary policy from an advocacy perspective. This qualitative study was conducted using in-depth and group interviews (n=12). Participants were selected using snowball approaches. Data was collected and analyzed using case study methods. Sampling included diversity of positionality in the collaborative process of advocacy. This ranged from undocumented advocates, immigration attorneys, non -profit leaders and informed community leaders. Data was analyzed using InVivo qualitative software and results were grouped into themes emerging from the data.

Results: Three distinct initial themes derived from the data generated. This included: (1) the importance of identifying and creating potential allies; (2) understanding the significance of educating the community surrounding immigration policy and (3) collaborative preparation for opposition.

Conclusions and Implications: Based upon the data derived, collaborative preparation for opposition to reform should be a focal point for those seeking to implement sanctuary policy. Furthermore, “ally building” and community collaboration may serve as pillars in the process to local efforts to reform. As research surrounding the process surrounding sanctuary policy is scarce in the social work realm, recommendation for further studies are suggested.