A decade ago, the immigration debate divided Hazleton, PA when the mayor blamed a wave of immigrants for crimes and passed a harsh bill against them. Professor René Flores lays out what happened and how laws like this can actually lead to more violence.

For More on This Topic:

• Read his brief on Hazleton and Arizona, How Restrictive Laws Can Influence Public Attitudes towards Immigrants
• Check out the NPR story about the history of the town and how it has transformed.

Further Reading:

• Why Does Immigration Arouse Deep Feelings and Conflicts?, John D. Skrentny, UC San Diego
• How Restrictive Immigration Measures Undermine the Mental Health of Latino Migrants, Whitney L. Duncan, University of Northern Colorado