Watch Dr. Daniel Hawes, Program Coordinator of Kent State Online’s Master’s in Public Administration, talk about the Effect of Immigration Enforcement on Student Performance

Political Science Blog Header Image

Watch Dr. Daniel Hawes speak to Sage Publications about a paper he presented at the American Political Science Association conference in Montreal 2022. The paper also won the Herbert Kaufman Best Paper award from the Public Administration Section in 2023.

Caught in the Crossfire: Immigration Enforcement and Student Performance

Dr. Hawes discusses the effect of immigration enforcement on student performance, including immigrant-serving organizations and negative impacts on undocumented immigrant students.

The paper, titled Caught in the Crossfire: Immigration Enforcement and Student Performance, examines the role that local immigration enforcement efforts play in the long-term academic performance of undocumented students in Texas.

From the paper’s abstract:

We posit that undocumented students living in communities with enhanced immigration enforcement policies will perform less well on standardized exams compared to their non-immigrant counterparts due to the external stress, threat and instability created but such environments. We also hypothesize that community and institutional supports can moderate these negative effects. Using a unique longitudinal, multi-level dataset, the analysis tracks student-level performance of undocumented and citizen students in Texas public schools from 2003-2018. These data are merged with county- and city-level data that measure the political and social context as well as the intensity of immigration enforcement at the county level. We also examine how the presence of institutional supports, representation and immigrant-serving nonprofits in the community can moderate the negative effects of anti-immigrant environmental contexts.

Meet Dr. Daniel Hawes

Daniel Hawes Headshot

Dr. Daniel Hawes is the Program Coordinator of Kent State Online’s Master’s in Public Administration Degree and Professor of Political Science at Kent State University.

Daniel Hawes’ research interests deal with questions related to public policy and public administration, broadly, and substantively focus on education and immigration policy. His research incorporates aspects of public administration, public management, and state and local politics in examining questions of public policy and policy performance. A central theme in his research is a focus on the determinants of public policy outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged groups. A fundamental question that his work has sought to address is: How can government – via policy, structure, bureaucracy or management – better address the inequities we observe in policy outcomes for disadvantaged groups? In doing so, his work has explicitly examined the role of public management, organizational structure, political representation, and organizational and external environments on shaping policy outcomes. He has approached this broad question through different theoretical lens – e.g., social capital, representative bureaucracy, public management – and in different substantive contexts – e.g. K-12 education, higher education, immigration policy.

Dr. Hawes’ publications have appeared in a political science and public policy/administration journals including, Public Administration Review, J-PART, American Review of Public Administration, Administration & Society, Political Research Quarterly, State Politics and Policy Quarterly, Social Science Quarterly, and State and Local Government Review.

View his recent publications.

Become a Better Leader in the Workplace with an Online Master’s Degree in Public Administration

Kent State University’s Master of Public Administration Program is designed for working adults: each NASPAA-accredited seven-week course is 100% online and fully asynchronous so that you can learn on your schedule.

Using learning techniques that help you apply what you learn in real-time, this program positions you for senior management positions in local, state, and regional governments, as well as in nonprofit organizations, the military, and the private sector.

Earn a Master’s of Public Administration in as little as two years or a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management in as few as nine months.

The editorial team at Kent State Online is composed of dedicated professionals with expertise in higher education, digital marketing, and content strategy. Our mission is to create insightful, engaging, and informative content that empowers prospective students to make informed decisions about advancing their education and careers.
Latest Blogs
Educational technology has become an essential tool in transforming how we teach, learn, and lead. From K-12 classrooms to higher education and corporate training environments, technology is reshaping education, creating opportunities to improve outcomes and foster innovation. At the heart of this transformation are leaders who understand how to effectively implement and leverage these tools to make meaningful change.
In the field of education, psychology plays a crucial role in supporting student learning and development. However, many people often confuse two distinct yet interrelated disciplines: educational psychology and school psychology. While both fields focus on enhancing student outcomes, they differ in their scope, approach, and career opportunities.
Leadership in special education requires vision, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges students, families, and educators face. Kent State University’s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Interprofessional Leadership with a concentration in Special Education is specifically designed for those who aspire to drive change, foster inclusion, and advocate for systemic improvement in special education settings.
Explore Our Online Programs
Find a Program
Online Minors
Online Non-Degree Graduate Licensure Programs
Get Started
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Center for Adult Veteran Services
Approximately 1,500 international students from 100 countries are enrolled at Kent State University. We’re excited to have you join us, and our international admission team is here to help you every step of the way.
About Kent State Online
Contact Us
Tuition and Costs
Meet Our Faculty
Contact Us