Household Probability Sampling of Legal and Unauthorized Migrants

• Activity Number: 67
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Sunday, July 29, 2012 : 4:00 PM to 5:50 PM
• Sponsor: Social Statistics Section
• Author(s): Enrico A. Marcelli*+
• Companies: San Diego State University
• Keywords: immigrant legal status ; survey estimation

Abstract

The health, effects and overall well-being of U.S. foreign-born residents by legal status are some of the most difficult demographic phenomena to measure for at least two reasons. First, migration is not a tangible biological event. Second, even when representative sample data include nativity and other variables of interest, they almost never include legal status (e.g., American Community Survey). However, since 1994 demographers, community-based organizations and statisticians have been collecting representative data that permit one to generate credible estimates of the number and characteristics of legal and unauthorized migrants. This paper explains and evaluates the community-based biodemographic survey methodology that has been employed to study legal and unauthorized Brazilian, Dominican and Mexican migrants residing in metropolitan Boston and Los Angeles. We also estimate how interviewer characteristics influence migrant responses to sensitive questions and requests for biological data; and whether estimated legal status differences in access to medical care and health from household survey data are supported by evidence available from administrative (Medicaid) records.