Community resilience and intersections between sociopolitical and racial relations in the aftermath of immigration raids in Mississippi

Abstract

ABSTRACT Immigration law enforcement operations can negatively affect communities, creating or exacerbating problems among Latinx immigrants. Community resilience perspectives enable examination of how communities overcome challenges created by disruptions. Resilience studies have shown power relations can affect collective responses. However, few studies exist about how politics and race can affect community responses. This study examines how sociopolitical and racial relations influenced community resilience in the context of large immigration raids. Twenty-six Latinx organizers and allies involved in community responses in the aftermath of these raids were interviewed. The findings show how politics intertwined with racism-shaped Latinx community resilience. After the raids, Latinx groups and allies mobilized collective agency to address problems created by the raids, challenged by political and racial dynamics. The findings also show creating more visibility and consciousness about Latinx communities could be an important step for strengthening inclusiveness and community resilience.