Current Federal and State Immigration Policy in the U.S. On Un-Documented and Documented Immigrants: Implications for Economic Hardship, Mental Health, Community and Family Stability

Abstract

State legislation and federal immigration policy in the United States plays a pivotal role in terms of influencing the economic well-being and the associated behavioral health and mental health outcomes within the immigrant population. Federal welfare administrative changes directed at non-citizens, designed to inhibit utilization of U.S. assistance programs such as the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and Medicaid programs, has had a chilling effect upon access to “safety net” programs available to the low-income documented and un-documented population at large. More importantly, these policies undermine family economic mobility and community stability. This includes restrictions in employment supports resulting in lost labor productivity. This paper will examine the preliminary effects of current immigration policy, including the recently enacted “public charge” rule at the federal level. A systematic discussion of federal immigration policy, affecting immigrant access and utilization of health care resources, public benefits, housing, and employment will be examined. An analysis of the public charge federal legislation and state immigrant “safety net” policies utilizing the National Association of State Legislatures database is included. Finally, a discussion of the overall economic consequences associated with restrictive federal policy within the immigrant community, as well as the alignment of innovative state responses, will be provided.