The Ongoing Impact of Deportation Threats on Latino Mental Health
The period between 2011 and 2018 witnessed significant changes in the social and political landscape in the United States. Events like the DACA rule changes, shifts in presidential leadership, and the introduction of new immigration bills have intensified the fear of deportation among both undocumented and documented Latinos in the country.
Research conducted by Amy Johnson, an assistant professor of sociology at Lehigh University, alongside other collaborators, has shed light on the increasing psychological distress experienced by Latinos in the U.S. during this time frame. Their study, titled “Deportation threat predicts Latino US citizens and noncitizens’ psychological distress, 2011 to 2018,” published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals a rise in anxiety and depressive symptoms among both citizens and noncitizens, highlighting the pervasive nature of deportation fears.
The researchers found that shifts in immigration policies, such as the implementation of DACA and DAPA, directly affected the mental well-being of Latinos. While DACA provided temporary relief for some undocumented immigrants, the Trump presidency and the subsequent increase in immigration enforcement measures heightened distress among noncitizen Latinos.
Moreover, the study emphasizes that the impact of deportation threats extends beyond federal policies and presidential elections. Daily interactions, including conversations about immigration and ICE’s detainer requests to local police, also contribute to heightened levels of psychological distress among Latinos. Johnson stresses the importance of understanding how the salience of deportation in everyday life can impact mental health, emphasizing that even U.S.-born Latinos are not immune to these stressors.
The study also underscores the intersection of citizenship status and psychological well-being, revealing that individuals across all citizenship statuses respond negatively to the looming threat of deportation. The fact that even citizens experience distress related to deportation threats underscores the deep-seated racial and ethnic divisions present in society.
As the nation approaches the potentially polarizing 2024 election year, it is crucial to recognize that addressing deportation threats and their impact on mental health requires a multifaceted approach. Beyond federal policies, the everyday experiences and conversations surrounding immigration play a significant role in shaping the well-being of Latino communities across the country.