Latino Immigrant Families, Immigration Enforcement, Deportation Fear, and Social Work Implications

Ayon, C. (2013). Service needs among Latino immigrant families: Implications for social work practice. Social Work, 59(1), 13–23.

This study sought to identify the service needs of Latino immigrant families given the passage of the particularly stringent anti-immigration bill in Arizona. To accomplish the study’s goals, the researcher conducted 52 focus groups with first-generation Latino immigrant parents to gain much-needed insight into the services needed to ensure their families’ well-being. The analysis of the collected data revealed five unique needs that Latino immigrant families require.

One of these needs is mental health services, such as prevention efforts, counseling, and support groups for mothers. They revealed that their mental health needs are a result of the harsh political climate in the US, discrimination, and the fear that their families could be deported. The second category of needs that they require is physical healthcare. For this one, they indicated a need for affordable, comprehensive healthcare services. They highlighted that they often face barriers to accessing care due to a general lack of insurance among immigrant families.

This study’s strength lies in its use of a nationally representative sample, providing valuable insights into the experiences and perceptions of Latinos across the US. Additionally, the study’s findings are particularly relevant given the increased attention on immigration and the spike in anti-immigration sentiments in this election year. As such, policymakers must balance between establishing trust with the Latino community and deportation enforcement. This study highlights the importance of understanding the fear of deportation among Latinos and the hindrance to a successful relationship with law enforcement (Ayon, 2013). The key points in this study that will be relevant are as follows:

1. Latinos with the greatest fear of deportation have an awful relationship with law enforcement.
2. The fear of deportation hinders Latinos from reporting violent crimes.
3. Lack of trust and underreporting of crime are a detriment to effective policing and crime prevention efforts in Latino communities.

Becerra, D., Wagaman, M. A., Androff, D., Messing, J., & Castillo, J. (2016). Policing immigrants: Fear of deportations and perceptions of law enforcement and criminal justice. Journal of Social Work, 17(6), 715–731.

This study explored the relationship between the fear of deportation and Latinos’ perception of law enforcement and the criminal justice system in the US. To answer the study questions, the researchers analyzed data from a nationally representative survey of 2,015 Latino respondents. After analyzing the collected data, the researchers found that the Latinos with the greatest fear of deportation had less confidence that the police would not use excessive force and treat them fairly, a lower likelihood of reporting violent crimes to the police, and were not convinced that the courts would treat them equally.

Additionally, the researchers found that the fear of being deported negatively impacted Latinos’ trust in law enforcement and the criminal justice system, which deterred them from reporting crimes and seeking support and assistance. Accordingly, this lack of trust and underreporting of crimes by Latinos hinders effective policing, crime prevention initiatives, and the ability of law enforcement agents to carry out the duties assigned to them.

The study’s strength lies in its indictment of the anti-immigration policies and the increased immigration enforcement in Latino communities, and its representative sample. Additionally, to remedy the situation created by these policies, the researchers maintain that social workers can play a significant role. In particular, they note that they can provide cultural competence training to law enforcement and other employees of the criminal justice system (Becerra et al., 2016). They also recommend providing education to Latinos about their rights and how to interact with law enforcement agencies. The following key points will be helpful during the research:

1. Latino individuals may be less likely to report crimes because they often have limited trust in law enforcement and the justice system.
2. The lack of trust in law enforcement by Latino communities emanates from the fear of deportation.
3. Social workers can provide cultural competence to law enforcement to assist in trust building.

Devia, C., Baker, E. A., Sanchez-Youngman, S., Barnidge, E., Golub, M., Motton, F., Muhammad, M., Ruddock, C., Vicuña, B., & Wallerstein, N. (2017). Advancing system and policy changes for social and racial justice: Comparing a rural and Urban Community-based participatory research partnership in the U.S. International Journal for Equity in Health, 16(1).

This study examines the role of community-based participatory research (CBPR) in promoting social and racial justice. To achieve this goal, the researchers use two case studies of CBPR partnerships – Bronx Health REACH (BHR), which focuses on diabetes disparities among African Americans and Latinos in the South Bronx, and Men on the Move (MOTM), which addresses heart disease among African Americans in rural Missouri.

The researchers explore how partnerships use four social justice strategies: identity/identification, procedural justice, distributive justice, and structural justice. The researchers also note that the unique historical and social contexts have shaped the two CBPR partnerships, helping them confront rural segregation and economic deprivation. Additionally, the researchers note that these two organizations engaged the church and other faith-based organizations and adeptly navigated the power/privilege dynamics between academic and community partners.

The strength of this study lies in its comparative analysis of two CBPR cases that showcase how to address social and racial justice issues. The article notes the importance of engaging faith-based organizations and navigating the power dynamics between academic and community partners (Devia et al., 2017). In addition, it highlights the role of CBPR in bridging research with civic empowerment. The following key points from this research will be incorporated into the literature review:

1. Unique historical and social contexts shaped the CBPR partnerships in combating rural segregation.
2. The success of the partnerships hinged on the cooperation of the academic and community partners.
3. Federal funding can support partnership development and community capacity building for CBPR.

Lopez, W. D., Kruger, D. J., Delva, J., Llanes, M., Ledón, C., Waller, A., Harner, M., Martinez, R., Sanders, L., Harner, M., & Israel, B. (2016). Health implications of an immigration RAID: Findings from a Latino community in the Midwestern United States. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 19(3), 702–708.

For this study, the researchers explore the health implications of an immigration raid that took place in the Latino community in the Midwestern United States. The researchers noted that immigration raids are a perfect example of the reach that law enforcement has on the lives of members of the Latino community. The study found that participants who completed the survey after the raid had higher levels of immigration enforcement stress and lower self-rated health scores than those who completed a similar survey before the raid. Additionally, they concluded that being foreign-born and having children increased the levels of immigration enforcement stress after the raid.

The strength of this research lies in the method used by researchers to collect data for analysis. They employed a survey where they interviewed 325 participants before the raid and 125 after the raid (Lopez et al., 2016). The collected data were then analyzed using linear regression, yielding important insights. After analysis, they noted that the raid reduced social capital and community engagement among Latinos, which affected their health scores. These findings reveal the negative consequences of immigration enforcement raids on Latino communities. The key points that will help in drafting the literature review are:

1. Immigration raids are one of the reasons for the Latino community’s isolation and lack of access to social services such as healthcare and education for their children.
2. It is the role of social workers to advocate for fair immigration policies and also provide immigrants with adequate information on their rights and how to interact with law enforcement during such raids.
3. A comprehensive assessment of immigration policies to ensure that their social cost is considered and that they do not exacerbate problems that Latino communities already face in their daily lives is necessary.

Rodríguez, R., Macías, R. Lillianne, Pérez-García, R., Landeros, G., & Martínez, A. (2018). Action research at the intersection of structural and family violence in an immigrant Latino community: A youth-led study. Journal of Family Violence, 33(8), 587–596.

In this participatory action research (PAR) study, a group of Latino youth researchers seeks to understand the impact of anti-immigrant policies and sentiments on Latino families impacted by domestic violence (DV) in Georgia. After analyzing the collected information, the study’s findings show the massive impact of the psychological and economic stress experienced by immigrant families in the context of an increasingly hostile immigration environment. Accordingly, the study participants admitted to feelings of fear, isolation, and distrust of the formal support systems, such as school and law enforcement, due to concerns that they and their family members would be deported.

Additionally, they found that economic insecurity was a major concern, as most participants had difficulty obtaining employment. Where work was available, they often experienced workplace harassment and discrimination. Another notable finding in the research is that there were gender differences in how individuals perceived anti-immigrant policies and domestic violence.

This study’s strength lies in the researchers’ methodology. It utilizes a qualitative methodology that involves designing interview questions to facilitate interviews with study participants, analyzing the collected raw data, and disseminating and discussing the study’s findings (Rodriguez et al., 2018). The methodology is a perfect fit for research focused on social work and promoting the voices and concerns of vulnerable and marginalized communities. It allows them to engage in a process to address pressing issues that impact their daily lives. The following key points will help write the literature review:

1. Anti-immigration policies often exacerbate family conflict and domestic violence.
2. Men perceived a hostile anti-immigration environment as a deterrent to violence due to the potential consequences for the perpetrator.
3. Anti-immigration policies were creating barriers for Latino communities, making it hard for them to access necessary services and support.
4. The study participants, especially the youths, indicated that they were hesitant in reporting violence or seeking help due to ingrained fears of family separation and deportation.