Omnibus or Ominous immigration laws? Immigration policy and mental health of the Hispanic population. (20th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luo, Tianyuan; Kostandini, Genti
• Is Part Of: Health economics. Volume 32:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 90
• Page End: 106
• Publication Date: 2022-09-20
• Subjects: immigration policy -- mental health -- police enforcement -- the Hispanic population -- "show me your papers" laws; Medical economics -- Periodicals; Economics, Medical -- Periodicals; Health Care Costs -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- economics -- Periodicals; Health Services -- economics -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1002/hec.4611
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-9230

Abstract

Abstract: This study examines the impact of Omnibus Immigration Laws on the mental health of the Hispanic populations in the U.S. We use a Difference‐in‐Differences framework and data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the 2000–2016 period that contains information on more than 400 thousand Hispanics residing in the U.S. We find that the most stringent provision, namely, "show me your papers" laws, adversely affects the mental health of Hispanics and contributes to an increase of 12%–16% in the number of unhealthy mental days and an increase of 13%–18% in the probability of having frequent mental distress in the states with "show me your papers" laws. OIL provisions that enforced the use of E‐Verify or limited the use of public benefits to unauthorized immigrants did not have any effect on mental health. The study also examines (1) police stops, (2) physical health, insurance, and employment status, (3) co‐ethnic density, and (4) immigration enforcement awareness as potential mechanisms that could lead to a deterioration in the mental health of Hispanics. The evidence indicates their vulnerability to strict immigration enforcement. The social and public health cost should be carefully evaluated when formulating and implementing immigration policies.