"It's an Odyssey:" Centering Mexican and Central American Immigrant Entrepreneurs in an Examination of County-Level Sanctuary
Using a comparative case study methodology, this research explores how Mexican and Central American immigrant entrepreneurs in two types of county-level sanctuary contexts (limited and robust) operate their enterprises. Through interviews with 48 small-scale entrepreneurs and 52 organizational cont...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The University of Alabama
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship |
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| Online Access: | https://account.jces.ua.edu/index.php/s-j-jces/article/view/499 |
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| author | Tara Carr-Lemke |
| author_facet | Tara Carr-Lemke |
| author_sort | Tara Carr-Lemke |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Using a comparative case study methodology, this research explores how Mexican and Central American immigrant entrepreneurs in two types of county-level sanctuary contexts (limited and robust) operate their enterprises. Through interviews with 48 small-scale entrepreneurs and 52 organizational contacts facilitated in part through lead local community partners, the study explores entrepreneurs’ perceptions of sanctuary as a factor affecting their business decisions. Self-employment and business registration data from the American Community Survey (ACS) provide context for the narratives. This research suggests that sanctuary policy has an indirect but contributing effect on entrepreneurs’ decision-making and livelihoods. Interviews substantiate the key roles federal and state policy play in shaping the entrepreneurial landscape for immigrants at the county level across sanctuary types. The research illuminates the multi-scalar environment in which immigrant entrepreneurs are embedded and the strategic choices they make with the tools at their disposal. Key recommendations for business ecosystems—including an emphasis on access to driver’s licenses and culturally responsive, multilingual resources—are highlighted. The insights of entrepreneurs deepen understanding of existing theory about immigrant entrepreneurship and the effects of sanctuary policy on immigrant choices.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eb080e9bcce94d4284263f712ee4cb1c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1944-1207 2837-8075 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | The University of Alabama |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship |
| spelling | doaj-art-eb080e9bcce94d4284263f712ee4cb1c2025-01-08T20:12:39ZengThe University of AlabamaJournal of Community Engagement and Scholarship1944-12072837-80752025-01-0117310.54656/jces.v17i3.499"It's an Odyssey:" Centering Mexican and Central American Immigrant Entrepreneurs in an Examination of County-Level SanctuaryTara Carr-Lemke0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8573-7102Princeton University Using a comparative case study methodology, this research explores how Mexican and Central American immigrant entrepreneurs in two types of county-level sanctuary contexts (limited and robust) operate their enterprises. Through interviews with 48 small-scale entrepreneurs and 52 organizational contacts facilitated in part through lead local community partners, the study explores entrepreneurs’ perceptions of sanctuary as a factor affecting their business decisions. Self-employment and business registration data from the American Community Survey (ACS) provide context for the narratives. This research suggests that sanctuary policy has an indirect but contributing effect on entrepreneurs’ decision-making and livelihoods. Interviews substantiate the key roles federal and state policy play in shaping the entrepreneurial landscape for immigrants at the county level across sanctuary types. The research illuminates the multi-scalar environment in which immigrant entrepreneurs are embedded and the strategic choices they make with the tools at their disposal. Key recommendations for business ecosystems—including an emphasis on access to driver’s licenses and culturally responsive, multilingual resources—are highlighted. The insights of entrepreneurs deepen understanding of existing theory about immigrant entrepreneurship and the effects of sanctuary policy on immigrant choices. https://account.jces.ua.edu/index.php/s-j-jces/article/view/499sanctuaryLatin American immigrant entrepreneurs |
| spellingShingle | Tara Carr-Lemke "It's an Odyssey:" Centering Mexican and Central American Immigrant Entrepreneurs in an Examination of County-Level Sanctuary Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship sanctuary Latin American immigrant entrepreneurs |
| title | "It's an Odyssey:" Centering Mexican and Central American Immigrant Entrepreneurs in an Examination of County-Level Sanctuary |
| title_full | "It's an Odyssey:" Centering Mexican and Central American Immigrant Entrepreneurs in an Examination of County-Level Sanctuary |
| title_fullStr | "It's an Odyssey:" Centering Mexican and Central American Immigrant Entrepreneurs in an Examination of County-Level Sanctuary |
| title_full_unstemmed | "It's an Odyssey:" Centering Mexican and Central American Immigrant Entrepreneurs in an Examination of County-Level Sanctuary |
| title_short | "It's an Odyssey:" Centering Mexican and Central American Immigrant Entrepreneurs in an Examination of County-Level Sanctuary |
| title_sort | it s an odyssey centering mexican and central american immigrant entrepreneurs in an examination of county level sanctuary |
| topic | sanctuary Latin American immigrant entrepreneurs |
| url | https://account.jces.ua.edu/index.php/s-j-jces/article/view/499 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT taracarrlemke itsanodysseycenteringmexicanandcentralamericanimmigrantentrepreneursinanexaminationofcountylevelsanctuary |