Policies during COVID-19 and their impact on immigrant families’ psychological well-being: A critically engaged practice.

Abstract

Introduction:The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated, and complicated stressors related to immigrant families' experience with U.S. immigration policies. Method: This article uses a critically engaged practice (CEP) framework to examine three policies and their implications for the health and well-being of immigrant families during the COVID-19 pandemic (a) Detention and Removal of Alien Parents or Legal Guardians policy, (b) Order Suspending the Right to Introduce Certain Persons from Countries where a Quarantinable Communicable Disease Exists, and (c) Field Guidance on Deportability and Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds. Results: Our article presents a CEP framework to empower clinicians in integrated healthcare settings to better understand and communicate policies with their patients. Discussion: Policy-informed CEP asks clinicians to (a) remain current with policy change; (b) have the ability to interpret policy and or policy change to clients; and (c) be aware of not only the primary effects of policy on the family but also the secondary impacts to their system. Clinical implications are provided. Public Significance StatementMitigation strategies related to the COVID-19 pandemic have generated many new policies at the local, state, and federal levels. A Critically Engaged Practice perspective, asks clinicians to understand and communicate their understanding of relevant policies to their patients to increase their patients' access to resources and promote accurate information.