Leading the March: The Role of Latino Religion in the Immigrant Rights Movement

Abstract

As the Latino population living in the US continues to increase, these new residents are adjusting to life in a new host country in a way that merges their religious beliefs and social ties, which has the potential to result in engagement in unconventional political participation. Following the 2006 surge in immigrant rights marches, scholars of this movement continue to discover how this politically marginalized population was so effectively mobilized. While native-born Americans perceive a very distinct border between church and state, Latino immigrants and clergy effectively erased this boundary by using the social capital provided by membership in a congregation to engage Latinos, both citizens and undocumented, in the national discussion of immigrant rights by marching.