Immigrants often get more 'pro-native' and want stricter borders when a completely different cultural group arrives.
March 19, 2026
Original Paper
Immigrants Confronting Immigration: Political Reactions to Culturally Distant Outgroups
SocArXiv · mwqhr_v1
The Takeaway
Studying Latin Americans in Spain, researchers found that when this group perceives an increase in Moroccan immigration, they actually align more closely with native Spaniards and adopt stricter cultural definitions of national identity. This 'strategic boundary-making' shows that immigrant groups don't always feel solidarity; they may distance themselves from newer arrivals to protect their own social standing.
From the abstract
This paper examines how social group boundaries are renegotiated in response to demographic change, focusing on immigration from culturally diverse backgrounds. Using a survey experiment in Spain, we explore how Latin American immigrants—who share linguistic and cultural affinities with natives—react to the perceived growth of Moroccans, a more culturally distant immigrant group. Drawing on social identity and political economy theories, we argue that exposure to Moroccan immigration prompts Lat