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Exploring the Nexus of Federalism, Immigrants, and Food Insecurity in the U.S.
Fri, September 6, 10:00 to 11:30am, Marriott Philadelphia Downtown, 406Abstract
This study delves into the intricate dynamics of federalism's impact on long-term food security in economically vulnerable communities, particularly those with immigrant populations. Focusing on state-funded food assistance programs in the context of federal and state governance, our research examines the relationship between state policies, politics, immigration, and food insecurity. As of April 2020, only six states, including California and Washington, provided state-funded food assistance to individuals lacking citizenship or residency documentation. These programs aimed to address eligibility barriers in federal initiatives like SNAP.
Our objectives involve exploring how state legislative politics and resultant food policies correlate with overall food insecurity rates, predicting that states with food assistance programs exhibit lower food insecurity rates for people of color and immigrants. Utilizing a novel panel dataset spanning 2005-2014, incorporating data from various sources, including the Correlates of State Policy Project and NOMINATE scores, our analysis controls for state characteristics and time-variant factors.
Preliminary results reveal significant associations between food insecurity, immigration, and state legislative politics. States with food assistance programs show a positive relationship between food insecurity and foreign-born residents, while states lacking such programs exhibit a positive correlation between food insecurity and a conservative state legislature. The study suggests implications for understanding the complexities of food insecurity in relation to state politics and immigration, acknowledging the need for further investigation beyond the dataset's 2014 endpoint, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on public policies and immigration dynamics.