Uncertainty about Immigration Enforcement and Mental Health among Asian International Students in the U.S.

• In Event: International Migration Section Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): 25. Immigration and mental health

Abstract

Recent U.S. immigration policy proposals have subjected Asian international students to social exclusion and the threat of being deported. These directives, even when not passed, have created uncertainty for students who hold vulnerable legal statuses. Although research has shown that restrictive immigration policies can adversely affect health outcomes, uncertainty about immigration enforcement and its impact on international students’ well-being remain understudied. Utilizing the stress process model and drawing on 22 in-depth interviews with Asian students across the U.S., this study investigates the following questions: 1) What are the biggest challenges related to U.S. immigration policy that Asian international students face? 2) How do students respond to these challenges? and 3) How do immigration policies (or uncertainty about their enforcement) impact mental health? By examining Asian international students’ experiences with these structural barriers, this paper contributes to the literatures on immigration and provides recommendations for improving mental health in higher education.

Author

• Shan Mohammed Siddiqui, SUNY-Farmingdale