Strategizing Social Work Practice with Immigrant Populations in the Current Political Climate

The incoming administration has promised aggressive changes to US immigration policy within its first 100 days, including: the deportation of millions and the elimination of pathways to legal immigration for millions more. Whether and how these promises will be implemented is uncertain. Social work research identifies the negative impacts of uncertain legal status on immigrant youth and families. The literature demonstrates that immigration-related stressors can adversely impact the mental and emotional health of immigrant and first-generation children, including the presence of depression, anxiety, and suicidality. A panel of researchers, clinicians, and students will consider the material and psychological implications of a Trump presidency on immigrants, especially undocumented and mixed-status families and youth, and identify strategies for social workers to pursue their professional duty to empower and advocate on behalf of affected populations through research, practice, and policy work. (This panel is one of three made possible with financial support from the schools of social work at Rutgers University, New York University, and University of Chicago.)