Long Beach Pilot Study Finds Immigrant Residents Face Barriers to Civic Engagement

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A new pilot study examining how immigrant residents engage with city services and government processes in Long Beach, California suggests that heightened federal immigration enforcement is undermining democratic participation, even among U.S. citizens who fear for undocumented family members. The research identified three critical barriers: feelings of intimidation and lack of trust; knowledge gaps about available services; and practical constraints such as language barriers and transportation challenges.

Why it matters

Supporting immigrants' civic engagement is key to strengthening democracy and good governance. The study highlights how current immigration enforcement activities have created a 'climate of fear' that extends beyond undocumented residents, undermining participation in local government and community life.

The details

The six-month pilot study, funded by the Haynes Foundation, was led by researchers from UC Irvine in partnership with three Long Beach community organizations. They interviewed 24 Cambodian, Filipino, and Latinx residents and found that many had strong ties to the city, but current immigration enforcement has led them to avoid government buildings, public spaces, and even relying on public transportation. Knowledge gaps about civic processes like attending city council meetings also emerged as a barrier, along with practical constraints like conflicting work schedules and language barriers.

• The six-month pilot study was conducted in 2026.

What’s next

The researchers hope to expand the study with additional funding to include focus groups, surveys, and a larger sample size, as well as interviews with city officials and employees.