The Civic Engagement of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in Los Angeles: Findings from the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey, Wave I

William E. Rosales, University of California, Los Angeles

The current study examines to what degree that the observed ethnic differences in civic engagement are accounted by individual-level and neighborhood-level factors. The findings in this study suggest that once you account for neighborhood and individual level variables, the degree of ethnic differences in the level of civic engagement shrink. The observed difference in civic engagement between white and foreign-born undocumented Mexicans, though, remains salient even after you adjust for individual-level and neighborhood-level factors. Although the results are suggestive, future studies should better examine the link between neighborhood factors and the civic engagement of racial, ethnic and immigrant groups.