Understanding Immigration Detention: Causes, Conditions, and Consequences

Annual Review of Law and Social Science, Vol. 15 (2019)

USC CLASS Research Paper No. CLASS19-17

USC Law Legal Studies Paper No. 19-17

38 Pages Posted: 24 Jun 2019

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: June 19, 2019

Abstract

During the summer of 2018, the US government detained thousands of migrant parents and their separated children pursuant to its zero-tolerance policy at the United States–Mexico border. The ensuing media storm generated unprecedented public awareness about immigration detention. The recency of this public attention belies a long-standing immigration enforcement practice that has generated a growing body of research in the past couple of decades. I take stock of this research, focusing on the causes, conditions, and consequences of immigration detention in the United States. I also discuss critical tasks for future research, including (a) examining the role of local governments, the private prison industry, and decision makers responsible for release decisions in maintaining the detention system; (b) extending the field of inquiry to less-visible detainee populations and detention facility guards and staff, for a fuller understanding of detention conditions; and (c) investigating not only direct but also indirect consequences of detention.

Keywords: immigration detention, immigration enforcement, civil confinement, criminal incarceration

Suggested Citation

Ryo, Emily, Understanding Immigration Detention: Causes, Conditions, and Consequences (June 19, 2019). Annual Review of Law and Social Science, Vol. 15 (2019), USC CLASS Research Paper No. CLASS19-17, USC Law Legal Studies Paper No. 19-17, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3406445

Emily Ryo (Contact Author)

Duke Law School ( email )

210 Science Drive
Durham, NC 27708
United States
6502483855 (Phone)

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