Amada Armenta

Amada Armenta is an Associate Professor of Urban Planning at UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs. Her research focuses on intersections between immigration enforcement systems, criminal justice, and urban contexts. She holds a Ph.D. and MA in Sociology from UCLA and a BA in Political Science from Rice University.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. and MA in Sociology, UCLA
  • BA in Political Science, Rice University

Her award-winning book Protect, Serve and Deport examines Nashville's local law enforcement role in immigration control. Ongoing projects include unauthorized Mexican immigrants' legal attitudes in Philadelphia and the impact of policing strategies on immigrant communities. She has secured grants from the NSF, American Sociological Association, and Mellon Foundation.

Armenta's work bridges sociology, law, and public policy, addressing systemic racism, bureaucratic practices, and immigrant integration. Recent publications explore border narratives, workplace exploitation, and racial classification systems.

• Grants & Funding:
  • National Science Foundation
  • American Sociological Association
  • Andrew W. Mellon Foundation