“You’re Part of Some Hope and Then You Fall into Despair”: Exploring the Impact of a Restrictive Immigration Climate on Educators in Latinx Immigrant Communities

ABSTRACT

A growing body of literature indicates that Latinx immigrant families are adversely affected by restrictive immigration policies and anti-immigrant rhetoric. Little is known about how educators working with Latinx immigrant communities in restrictive immigration climates fare. Using mixed-methods, this study sought to better understand how the work and well-being of educators working with Latinx immigrant communities can be affected by a charged immigration climate. Using survey data from 88 educators in New York City and interview data from 17 educators in New York, California, Arizona, and Texas, we find that efficacy to help distressed children varies among educators. School-based resources such as clear, proactive organizational communication, supportive leadership that is attune to the needs and strengths of the immigrant community and communal coping are associated with educator efficacy to address student distress. Qualitative findings triangulate quantitative data; absent structural supports, educators working in Latinx immigrant communities can be adversely impacted by a charged immigration climate due to increases in work complexity, their own immigration-related worry, and experiences of vicarious racism. Recommendations for supports for educators working with Latinx immigrant communities are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• School based mental health
• stress
• immigration
• Latino/a/x
• vicarious racism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Foundation for Child Development [Young Scholars Award].