Defensive Citizenship Ming H. Chen Associate Professor, University of Colorado Law and Political Science Director, Immigration Law & Policy Program September 2017

Book Project: Constructing Citizenship for Noncitizens Membership asymmetry: How does enforcement relate to immigrant incorporation and notions of citizenship for noncitizens? Chapter 1 Noncitizens or Semi-Citizens? Chapter 2 Spectrum of Citizenship Statuses Chapter 3 Sites of Citizenship Chapter 4 Defensive Citizenship Chapter 5 Citizenship for Noncitizens

Chapter Summary: Defensive Citizenship Becoming a Citizen: Naturalization (Formal Citizenship) as Membership Empirical Study of Immigrants Seeking Citizenship in Current Climate Naturalization outcomes Interviews with LPRs, refugees, and noncitizens in military Implications of Defensive Citizenship? Partly explains uptick in naturalization rates during hostile political climate However, the instrumental benefit is offset by degraded meaning of citizenship. This has negative effects for the individual, for society, and ultimately for enforcement efforts.

Naturalization (Formal Citizenship) as Membership Pathways to citizenship Social and cultural Economic Political Legal Naturalization process generally (LPRs) Refugees Noncitizens in military

Empirical Study of Naturalization as Membership Naturalization outcomes 50% naturalize, with recent uptick of 8% True across immigrant categories Interviews with eligible citizens Question: What factors influence pursuit of citizenship? Legal categories: general LPRs (9), refugees (7), noncitizens in military (9)

“First it was the Muslims, and next? Who is on the list?” Latino LPR General LPR Results Themes from interviews Ability to travel/ right to U.S. passport Eligibility for immigration-related and collateral benefits Fostering a sense of identity, membership as belonging Civic participation / voting / dissent Fearing immigration enforcement/Avoiding deportation “First it was the Muslims, and next? Who is on the list?” Latino LPR

Refugees and Asylum-Seeker Results “I still consider myself a refugee, even though I have citizenship. That does not get left behind.” Naturalize at high rates because it is the “next step” Formal membership, without substantive belonging Ambivalence toward contemporary political climate Fear: “Refugees know what happens in worst case scenarios” Gratitude: “We are finally legal humans… but we did not choose the U.S.”

Noncitizens in Military and Deported Vets “I’m more American than you because I fought for this country.” Naturalize at high rates, though administrative challenges, vetting delays, deportation Challenging formal definitions of citizenship I was already American before getting official citizenship. Lacking or losing formal citizenship does not change the result Delay and defects in naturalization process Deported vets: “I still think of myself as American.”

Implications of Defensive Citizenship? Substantive and formal citizenship can diverge (refugees v. vets) Refugees feeling like outsiders despite formal status Vets discounting formal citizenship due to substantive belonging…. at great cost. Good or bad? Thin v. thick citizenship The instrumental benefit is offset by degraded meaning of citizenship. This has negative effects for the individual, for society, and ultimately for enforcement efforts. Structure and culture both matter to bolstering (formal) citizenship

Future Directions for Research Sharpening the theoretical argument Connecting to book’s theme of membership Focus on formal citizenship as a facet of full membership Influence of political climate v. other explanations for naturalization Questions: Is defensive citizenship as undesireable as a I make it out to be? Is this a unique moment among hostile political climates? Strengthening the research design and empirical data Comparisons across general LPR, refugees, military High tech workers (H1-B and EB immigration) DACA and undocumented immigrants (lacking pathway to integration) Preview of policy prescriptions (Chapter 5/Conclusion)