1. Introduction

This book discusses a range of issues surrounding race, ethnicity, and immigrant status in U.S. policing, with a special focus on immigrant groups’ perceptions of the police and factors that shape their attitudes toward law enforcement. The goal is to not only systematically introduce relevant evidence and theoretical models related to immigrants’ assessments of the police, but to also shed light on potential challenges and difficulties that legal authorities face during an era of increasingly tightened control over immigrant populations in the country. This book strategically chooses to elaborate on the perceptions of three rapidly growing yet understudied ethnic groups—namely, Hispanic/Latino, Chinese, and Arab Americans. Discussion of their perceptions of and experience with the police revolves around several central themes, those being theoretical frameworks, historical developments, contemporary perceptions, and emerging challenges.