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http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s10903-016-0354-x&domain=pdf
Web End = J Immigrant Minority Health (2017) 19:543551 DOI 10.1007/s10903-016-0354-x
http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s10903-016-0354-x&domain=pdf
Web End = ORIGINAL PAPER
Coming of Age on the Margins: Mental Health and Wellbeing Among Latino Immigrant Young Adults Eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
Rachel Siemons1,2,3 Marissa Raymond-Flesh4 Colette L. Auerswald1,2,3
Claire D. Brindis4
Published online: 6 February 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016
Abstract Undocumented immigrant young adults growing up in the United States face signicant challenges. For those qualied, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs protections may alleviate stressors, with implications for their mental health and wellbeing (MHWB). We conducted nine focus groups with 61 DACA-eligible Latinos (ages 1831) in California to investigate their health needs. Participants reported MHWB as their greatest health concern and viewed DACA as benecial through increasing access to opportunities and promoting belonging and peer support. Participants found that DACA also introduced unanticipated challenges, including greater adult responsibilities and a new precarious identity. Thus, immigration policies such as DACA may inuence undocumented young adults MHWB in expected and unexpected ways. Research into the impacts of policy changes on young immigrants MHWB can guide stakeholders to better address this populations health needs. MHWB implications include the need to reduce fear of deportation and increase access to services.
Keywords Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Undocumented Mental health Well-being
Latino Immigrants Young adults Qualitative research
Introduction
The United States is home to approximately 11.4 million undocumented immigrants, half of whom are of Latino origin [1, 2]. Immigrants, regardless of legal status, face signicant stress both during and following migration [35]. The immigration experience itself has been shown to threaten individual and family well-being due to separation from family, exposure to traumatic events, discrimination, and loss of social status [6]. While Latinos living in the US, whether native born, documented or undocumented immigrants face marginalization, socioeconomic challenges, and reduced social integration, the undocumented experience an even greater degree of stigma associated with their illegal status [3, 715]. Stressors are further magnied for undocumented immigrants who struggle even more for basic necessities, experience perpetual fear of deportation, and are often conned to the lowest-wage jobs [3, 712, 14, 16, 17].
Risks to mental health and wellbeing (MHWB) are magnied for undocumented young adults...