Authors:

Chantal Rodriguez

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@Cook Family Writing Program, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208 email: chantalrodriguez2028. 1@u.northwestern.edu *PI: laura.pigozzi@northwestern.edu Political rhetoric and immigration policy, along with individual behaviors, shape health disparities among Latino immigrants in the United States. While the detrimental effects of structural barriers, such as limited access to healthcare or unsafe housing, are documented, the physiological and psychological impact of living under constant threat of surveillance, detention, and deportation remains largely underexplored [1]. This study aims to investigate the research question: How do anti-immigrant rhetoric and aggressive immigration policy enforcement affect the physical and mental health of Latino immigrants? Using a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Latino immigrants residing in mixed-status communities. Interviews explored participants' experiences with immigration rhetoric, perceptions of enforcement practices, and reported impacts on daily life and health behaviors. Preliminary findings indicate that participants experience chronic stress, persistent fear of detention or deportation, sleep disturbances, and avoidance of healthcare and social services due to perceived risk of exposure. Many participants reported altering daily routines, including limiting time in public spaces and delaying medical care, even when experiencing serious symptoms. These behavioral adaptations were present among both unauthorized immigrants and individuals with legal status living in mixed-status households, suggesting that enforcement environments generate community-wide health consequences. Participants also described how criminalizing language in media and political discourse shaped their sense of belonging and psychological well-being. These findings demonstrate that anti-immigrant rhetoric and enforcement operate as social determinants of health, resulting in psychosocial stress and behavioral changes that contribute to adverse health outcomes. This project contributes original empirical evidence to interdisciplinary conversations in public health and underscores the need to recognize immigration policy as a form of health policy.

Source:

Northwestern University

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Co-authors:

Chantal Rodriguez