Individuals cross borders worldwide for a variety of reasons, such as fleeing war and persecution, seeking economic opportunity, leaving areas of instability caused by climate change, and reuniting with their families. Despite these diverse motivations, attitudes toward immigration have continuously grown in skepticism and resistance. In a recently published article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, we describe how the politicization of immigration has intensified—particularly in the context of the 2024 presidential election—spurring nationalist rhetoric, racial and ethnic discrimination, and scapegoating, all of which have powerful consequences for public health.
In a book sponsored by the Ernst Strungmann Forum, we introduced the new concept of migration stigma, a form of stigma experienced by groups with a history of international migration. Stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors can occur once individuals are identified or labeled as "immigrants," triggering negative consequences such as stereotyping, separation ("us" versus "them"), status loss and discrimination. The concept of migration stigma allows for the connection of sociopolitical forces to such patterns of exclusion, stereotyping, and dehumanization, phenomena typically examined in isolation. Through this linkage, we intend to bolster research efforts that elucidate how stigmatizing immigration impacts the health of families and their descendants, and contributes to broader health inequities across racial and ethnic groups.
Our article appears as part of a special call for papers within JAMA—Health and the 2024 U.S. Election—where we outline how nationalistic rhetoric has increasingly stereotyped and scapegoated immigrants, triggering substantial health consequences for those labeled as immigrants. For one, awareness of a negative political environment or the threat of restrictive policies can have detrimental psychological effects on immigrants, their descendants, and ethnic and racial groups associated with histories of migration. Such stigma could influence access to key structural factors crucial to health outcomes, including access to education, housing and employment opportunities.
The increasing politicization of immigration, coupled with ongoing events at the U.S. border with Mexico, suggests that the immigrant label is expected to be particularly persistent both up to and beyond the 2024 election, affecting various life domains including health outcomes. By exploring the connection between anti-immigrant rhetoric, policy and health, we aim to foster new opportunities for researchers and clinicians to better investigate these dynamics and intervene with these harmful social forces to improve public health.
Lawrence Yang, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences; Founding Director, Global Mental Health and Stigma Program; Associate Director, Global Center for Implementation Science
Emily Dunkel, MA
Li Ka Shing Family Fellow