Associations of Deportations Under the Secure Communities Program with Mental Health of Latinos: Findings from a National Multi-Ethnic Sample

Background. Heightened interior immigration enforcement has targeted Latinos, the largest and fastest growing racialized population in the US.  Immigration enforcement represents a salient source of threat and anxiety for Latinos, particularly those who reside in locales where enforcement is most intense. This context may adversely affect the health of Latinos.  We use county-level data of deportations under the Secure Communities immigration enforcement program to examine whether deportations are associated with elevated depressive symptoms and anxiety, and variations by race, ethnicity, and nativity, for a multi-ethnic national sample.

Methods. The Health Information National Trends Study includes a national multi-ethnic sample of Latino, non-Latino white (NLW), and non-Latino black (NLB) adults (n=6,037) who were surveyed between 2011-2013.  The dependent variable, depressive symptoms and anxiety, is assessed by the PHQ-4.  We use an original dataset tracking county-level immigration enforcement intensity of the Secure Communities program.  Using multivariate regression, we examined the association of county-level deportations with depressive symptoms and anxiety, and variations in these associations by race, ethnicity, and nativity.

Results. US-born Latinos who live in counties with greater deportations (b=0.87,SE=0.44,p=0.05) have more elevated depressive symptoms and anxiety than US-born Latinos in counties with fewer deportations and than US-born NLWs (b=-1.38,SE=0.45,p<0.01). 

Discussion. Findings indicate that restrictive immigration enforcement is inimical for Latino health and health implications are most acute for US-born Latinos in counties with high rates of deportations. We discuss these findings, which suggest that restrictive immigration enforcement policies are health policies that may exacerbate racial and ethnic health inequities.