According to researchers from Rice University, anti-immigrant policies have left undocumented youth “at risk for psychological distress and diminished quality of life as a result of the many complex stressors they face.” It’s no surprise—since the launch of his presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised to undo Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an Obama-era program that protects some 800,000 immigrant youth from deportation and allows them to work legally. The program remains in place since his inauguration, but threats from anti-immigrant Republican leaders leave its future in peril. This has contributed to immigrant youth fearing they’ll lose so much they’ve earned in the five years since DACA’s implementation:
To study the prevalence of mental health distress among Mexican immigrants living illegally in high-risk areas (places that have strong opposition and punitive actions against immigrants living here illegally), the researchers surveyed nearly 260 people. To be eligible for the survey, the participants had to confirm that they were residing in the U.S. without proper documentation.
Among participants, respondents aged 18-25 were the most likely to exhibit psychological distress (63 percent). Also, more than 90 percent of all respondents cited the loss of their home, social status, family and symbolic self as reasons for mental health distress.
Luz Garcini, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Psychology in Rice’s School of Social Sciences and the study’s lead author, said that DREAMers in particular are at risk for psychological distress and diminished quality of life as a result of the many complex stressors they face. They often experience these stressors over an extended period, under harsh living conditions and without access to adequate mental health services.
“DREAMers are often marginalized and discriminated against, and as a result they may become isolated from the larger educational and work communities,” Garcini said. “Many also experience separation from deported family members, and they do not have the option of traveling internationally to visit them. Finally, they live in constant fear of deportation and experience a sense of voicelessness, invisibility and limited opportunities, due to their conflicting undocumented status.”
We know immigrant youth are resilient in fighting for immigrant families—just recently, they rallied in cities across the nation in defense of DACA—but to tear young people who are American in every single way but on a piece of paper from their home is cruel, senseless, and a stain on us. But, there is something we can do about it. According to polling, 78 percent of American voters support giving immigrant youth legal status. Legislation that would do just that sits in both houses of Congress. Call your legislators and ask them to support the DREAM Act, and then text HereToStay to United We Dream at 877877 to stand with immigrant youth.