Following the election of President Trump, federal immigration policy has become increasingly punitive toward Latinx immigrants. Correspondingly, this shift in immigration policy has affected Latinx immigrants’ perception of local police, which they have historically viewed as closely connected to immigration authorities. This paper seeks to better understand the dynamics between local police and immigrant communities. Specifically, this paper analyzes how Latinx immigrants interact with local police through one case study: Elgin, a suburb of Illinois. In addition to my own personal connection, Elgin was chosen as the focus of study due to its shift in demographic composition from a majority white population to a booming Latinx population.

This thesis draws on qualitative interviews with local Latinx immigrants and Elgin Police Department members. In particular, immigrant interviewees described their prior encounters with Elgin Police and their Perception of Police using preset scenarios. Guided by these interviews, this paper identifies common perceptions of police held by Latinx immigrants, the relation between Documentation Status and Language in attitudes towards policing.

The broad concern of this project is to assess interactions between community members and police officers in order to assert the importance of shifting policing practices as the demographics of a community change. Future policing practices must center community members and their lived experiences. This study finds that trust in the police is key in the reporting of crimes. This paper concludes with a series of policies that can be adopted by the Elgin Police Department in order to improve trust between the police and the community, ultimately allowing for the facilitation of a true community-based policing model.