Belonging or estrangement—The European Refugee Crisis and its effects on immigrant identity

This study examines the impact of 2015 European Refugee Crisis on ethnic identity resident migrants in Germany. To derive plausibly causal estimates, I exploit quasi-experimental setting Germany, by which refugees are allocated to different counties state authorities without being able choose their locations themselves. finds that higher shares a county increased migrants’ attachment home countries, while not affecting perceived belonging Further analyses uncover strong heterogeneities with respect country origin and suggest concerns about xenophobia, experiences discrimination, consumption foreign media contributed these effects. Lastly, find changes coincide political polarization migrants.