Affiliation:
1. Economics at Occidental College Los Angeles California USA
2. Agricultural and Applied Economics at University of Wisconsin–Madison Madison Wisconsin USA
Abstract
AbstractThis paper estimates the effect of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a temporary legalization policy, on the incomes and property ownership of Salvadoran recipients over 20 years. We compare likely undocumented Salvadoran immigrants eligible for TPS to a control group of likely undocumented immigrants ineligible for TPS in an event study design that allows us to observe the policy's effects over 2 decades. We find that earnings, homeownership, and use of a car increased considerably for at least 15 years following the granting of TPS. This suggests that even temporary and limited legal status can have substantial and sustained benefits for recipients.