The Impact of Socio-Economic, Cultural, Political, and International Factors on Latinos/Latinas in United States

Abstract

This special issue has the potential to make substantive contributions to the existing literature on Latinos. The issue presents the assets, challenges, and opportunities Latinos face in this country. It also highlights the impact that the quality of the socio-politicaleconomic Latin America-United States relations has on this population. It contributes to the discourse on Latinos in areas of interest to social workers and other human services providers and offers an understanding of the Latino experience in this country. We are mindful that the use of the terms Spanish, Latinos, Hispanics, or country of origin may express different personal, political, or governmental views. Therefore, the choice was left to the contributors to select the terminology used to represent the population they addressed. As an immigrant from Argentina, I was first classified as a Hispanic. Then the 2000 census gave me the choice to check the Spanish/Hispanic/Latino box, however, when I travel to Central and South American countries, I am an Argentinean. It is no wonder that “who am I” has been the subject of attention by Latino authors for many years. Latinos are the fastest growing population in the United States due to immigration and high birth rates, two factors that are dramatically changing the diversity composition in this country. An important aspect of this population is that Latinos have lived on parts of this land since colonial times while others are recent immigrants. The challenges, needs, and the means by which they identify with Latin America vary greatly, indeed, intra-group differences are many. As a result, the authors have avoided generalizations by focusing on particular groups and the specific generations the immigrants represent. In this special issue, we want to emphasize the fact that large numbers of Latinos are impacted by events in Latin America, as well as by the U.S. government’s position on immigration and foreign policies toward Latin America. An example of the serious nature of the disagreements between the Latin American countries and the United States was reflected in the discouraging outcome of the 2012 Summit of the Americas (a gathering of the heads of state of the countries of the Americas) when the United States opposed the acceptance of Cuba to the next Summit meeting. Another example is the neutral position taken by the United States on the long-standing conflict between Argentina and England regarding the sovereignty of Las Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands). The lack of U.S. solidarity with Latin American countries is a critical issue, particularly when there is an emerging move among Latin American countries to seek trade agreements and other