“I’m not just an immigrant, I’m a human being.” The Impact of U.S. Immigration Policies on the Mental Health of Latino Immigrants

This training will discuss the mental health impact of U.S. immigration policies on Latinos in the U.S. and the implications for social work practice.

Dr. David Becerra is a Professor and the Divisional Dean of the School of Social Work at Boise State University. Prior to his appointment at Boise State, he was an Associate Professor, Southwest Borderlands Scholar, and the Director of the Office of Latino Projects in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University. His scholarship focuses on social justice and wellbeing among Latinos. He has been co-principal investigator on several federal, state, and local grants to examine and address issues affecting adolescents and young adults in Mexico as well as Latinos in the Southwestern United States. Dr.

Becerra is a nationally recognized expert on the impact of U.S. immigration policies on Latino immigrants. In addition to presenting his work at numerous regional and national conferences, his work has also been cited in numerous court decisions and briefs related to the adverse consequences that U.S. immigration policies have on Latino immigrants. His current research examines the impact of immigration detention on Latino immigrants and their families, as well as the cultural, spiritual, and familial resilience of those impacted by inhumane U.S. immigration policies.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Explain the impact of U.S. immigration policies on the mental health of Latinos immigrants in the U.S.
• Examine the implications U.S. immigration policies have on the wellbeing of Latino families.
• Assess issues with the use of traditional mental health assessment measures when working with Latino populations.