Perceived hostility toward latino migrants and self-reported health status

Immigration continues to be a political lightning rod in the United States (US). Latino/a/x/é (hereafter Latino) migrants live with uncertainty as a substantial and vocal portion of the population presses political leadership to “do something about” the immigration “problem”. We examined associations between Latino migrants’ perceptions of their local immigration policy environment and self-reported health across four US metropolitan areas, two with welcoming and two with restrictive immigration environments (N = 1750). Participants were noncitizen, Spanish-speaking Latino migrants (documented and undocumented). Bivariate analyses explored associations between central variables associated with the immigrant experience (e.g., documentation status, discrimination, deportation experience, deportation concerns) and self-rated physical and mental health. Multivariable analyses assessed the independent contribution of perceived immigration environment on health, given these immigration stressors. Perceived immigration environment was the only common significant predictor of both physical and mental health. Fear of deportation and discrimination predicted physical health status. Having been deported and having deportation experience predicted mental health status. A negative perceived immigration policy environment is an important predictor of health status. Law and policymakers should consider the impact of the policy of “attrition by enforcement” on the health of documented and undocumented migrants, a substantial portion of the US population.