Mexican Immigrant Families Under Siege: The Impact of Anti-Immigrant Policies, Discrimination, and the Economic Crisis

Cecilia Ayón,David Becerra

doi:10.18060/2692

Abstract

Latino immigrants have historically faced many challenges living in the United States (U.S.). The economic crisis combined with new anti-immigration policies and harsh enforcement strategies may exacerbate the stress and anxiety Latino immigrant families already endure as a result of discrimination and financial hardships. The purpose of this study was to understand the current challenges Latino immigrant families encounter within an anti-immigrant social-political environment. Fifty-two first generation immigrants participated in focus group sessions, which lasted between 90 and 120 minutes. The findings reveal that the economic crisis, anti-immigration policies, and enforcement strategies have deleterious effects on Latino immigrant families’ well-being. Participants stated that their limited English proficiency status and racial profiling were the basis for discriminatory practices they endured. Discrimination is experienced through instances of micro-aggression, as well as horizontal discrimination and institutional discrimination. Implications for social policy, social work practice, and research are discussed.

Highlights

Latino immigrants have historically faced many challenges living in the United States
Over the past several decades, numerous factors have influenced the rise of antiimmigrant sentiment and an increase in anti-immigrant policies in the United Stated During the last century, wars have led to anti-immigrant policies and discrimination of Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and most recently Arabs and Muslims in the United States
The three overarching challenges shared by participants were discrimination, uncertainty, and a lack of jobs

Summary

Introduction

Latino immigrants have historically faced many challenges living in the United States. The findings revealed that the economic crisis, anti-immigration policies, and enforcement strategies have had deleterious effects on Latino immigrant families’ wellbeing. Participants stated that their limited English proficiency and racial profiling were the basis for the discriminatory practices they endured. The economic recessions of 1990-1991, 2001, and 2007-2009 have contributed to the current antiimmigrant sentiment and the increase in anti-immigrant policies against Latino immigrants in the United States (Becerra, 2012). Such policies directly impact Latinos who represent 16% (or 50.5 million) of the U.S population (Humes, Jones, & Ramirez, 2011), of whom it is estimated 18 million are immigrants (Grieco, 2010). House Bill 2281 passed in 2011, which banned Mexican-American studies in Arizona

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