Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes of Latino U.S. citizens and their perceptions of undocumented Latino immigrants. This study aimed to determine whether demographic characteristics (age, gender, generational status, income, education), acculturation level, being born in or out of the U.S., knowing an undocumented immigrant or having once been an undocumented immigrant would predict Latino citizens negative attitudes toward undocumented Latino immigrants, perceived threats (realistic threats, symbolic threats, stereotypes), and intergroup anxiety. Another goal was to assess whether U.S. born Latinos hold more negative views toward undocumented Latino immigrants than naturalized Latino U.S. citizens. The sample consisted of 219 Latino U.S. citizens (60.8% female, 39.2% male) who completed a survey about their attitudes toward undocumented Latino immigrants. Results indicated that older adults, who identified as second generation or higher, who had higher education, had higher levels of U.S. acculturation, did not know an undocumented immigrant and did not have prior undocumented immigrant status, predicted greater negative attitudes toward undocumented Latino immigrants. Results also indicated that participants who were older, identified as male, were born in the U.S., did not know an undocumented immigrant, and did not have prior undocumented immigrant status predicted higher realistic threats. Being older was the sole predictor of symbolic threats and intergroup anxiety, but there were no predictors contributing to stereotypes. Finally, participants born outside the U.S. held more negative attitudes toward undocumented Latino immigrants than U.S. born Latino citizens.