Experiencing Anti-Immigrant Policies on Both Sides of the U.S./Mexico Borderland: A Comparative Study of Mexican and Iranian Families

Abstract

The experiences of Mexican and Iranian immigrant families are often unheard and unpacked. The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine how race, ethnicity, and national identity are at the core of the sociopolitical and economic issues that Latino and Iranian families undergo in the United States. Using critical race theory as a framework, this research analyzed the ways in which Mexican immigrant families who were deported, and Iranian-immigrant families living in the United States, have been differently affected by post 9/11 anti-immigrant policies and by zero tolerance policies enacted by the Trump administration. The research question guiding this study was: How do U.S. anti-immigrant policies affect Iranian and Mexican immigrant families and their children’s futures? Our findings uncovered that both groups were negatively affected, however, in different ways. Iranian immigrant parents worried about their socioeconomic status in the United States and their children’s future. They also feared that their relatives might not be able to visit them due to the U.S. Muslim Travel Ban placed on people from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran. On the other hand, Mexican immigrants who lived in the United States undocumented were deported to Mexico. However, after deportation, and responding to the threat of the Trump administration to deport millions more, the Mexican government provided dual citizenship to U.S.-born children of Mexican returnees to facilitate their access to government services, including education. All people and place names are pseudonyms.

“Their needs are higher than what I can do”: Moral distress in providers working with Latino immigrant families

“…The current oppressive immigration climate in the United States and exclusionary immigration policies further add to the complexity of ensuring adequate service provision to immigrant clients (Byers and Shapiro, 2019;Van Natta, 2019). For example, due to escalations in punitive measures that target undocumented individuals in the U.S., a growing number of Latino families experience forced family separations or live in the constant fear of deportation (Candel and Fayazpour, 2019;Kri z et al, 2012). Studies have highlighted the various ways in which the anti-immigrant policies put Latino immigrant families at risk for mental health problems, financial hardship, and housing insecurity (Casteñeda and Melo, 2014;Lovato, 2019).…”

Cultural issues on accessing mental health services in Nepali and Iranian migrants communities in the UK

“…Evidence from analyses with mental health stakeholders in Iran indicate that families and patients are very concerned about stigma associated with mental illness, and therefore, many avoid seeking treatment (Taghva et al 2017). International studies, which also explored the subject of cultural stereotyping, have identified antiimmigration policies and the loss of familial support to be contributory factors in accessing and engaging with mental health care in Iranian communities (Candel & Fayazpour 2019). This may be a factor in the UK and there are pros and cons to familial involvement with these dynamics being of benefit to explore during assessment of needs.…”

“…2017). International studies, which also explored the subject of cultural stereotyping, have identified anti‐immigration policies and the loss of familial support to be contributory factors in accessing and engaging with mental health care in Iranian communities (Candel & Fayazpour 2019). This may be a factor in the UK and there are pros and cons to familial involvement with these dynamics being of benefit to explore during assessment of needs.…”